What critical role do worker bees play during winter?

Worker bees play a crucial role during winter by clustering together to generate heat and maintain a suitable temperature inside the hive. This behavior is vital for the survival of the colony. As temperatures drop, worker bees will tightly gather around the queen and the brood, vibrating their muscles to produce warmth.

Driving drones out of the hive is part of a strategy to conserve resources when the colony is unable to forage for food. Drones, which are male bees that do not contribute to foraging or hive maintenance, are not needed for the survival of the colony during the winter months. The worker bees instinctively evict these non-productive members, ensuring that the hive's limited resources are preserved for the queen and the developing brood.

This focus on maintaining the hive's temperature and conserving resources is essential during winter, as the colony must survive on the food stores they gathered in the warmer months. Other activities, like creating new colonies, feeding the queen, or collecting pollen, do not align with the necessary winter survival tactics and maintenance of the hive.