Drones are male bees, and their sole function is to mate with a virgin queen.  The drone has a barbed sex organ, and mating is followed by death of the drone. The drone is not capable of stinging. They live about eight weeks. They are distinguishable by their larger overall size and very large eyes. Only about ten percent --at most-- are ever present in the hive.  Any drones left at the end of the season are considered non-essential and will be driven out of the hive to die.