Drone bees are male bees in a honeybee colony, primarily responsible for mating with a queen bee. They are larger than worker bees and do not have stingers. Drones are produced in the spring and summer when the colony is thriving, and their main role is to ensure the continuation of the hive's genetic line. Unlike worker bees, drone bees do not gather nectar or pollen, nor do they care for the queen or larvae. After mating, drones die shortly afterward, and as winter approaches, they are often expelled from the hive to conserve resources for the surviving worker bees and the queen bee.