As the season begins to come to an end (late August) the colony prepares for winter. The males in a colony (drones) only have one purpose – to mate with new Queens. They can’t forage for food or look after young or indeed, anything else. Therefore as the mating season is over the hive mind decides they are surplus to requirements and the females (workers – who hugely outnumber the drones) starts to get rid of them. Now, the drones don’t fancy this at all – they’ve lived a wonderful life being waited on, hand and foot, with free food, all summer.
Here’s what happens when a, now unwelcome, Drone tries to come in for some warmth and food…….