What happens to drones in the winter?

During the winter months, drones, which are the male bees of the hive, are typically ejected from the hive by the worker bees. This behavior is a survival strategy for the colony. Unlike worker bees that help maintain the hive's temperature and care for the queen, drones do not contribute to the hive's survival during the cold winter period. They do not have the ability to gather food or keep the hive warm. Therefore, as resources become scarce, worker bees will kick out the drones to conserve food and ensure that the remaining members can survive the winter months. This is an essential aspect of the hive's management and energy conservation practices.