The function of the drone in a colony of bees is to

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks about the role of the drone in a bee colony. Bees are social insects with a caste system, and each caste has its own job.

Step 2: The concept (bee castes)

• Queen: The only fully fertile female. She lays eggs, and so is the reproductive female of the colony.
• Workers: Sterile females. They clean the cells, feed the larvae, build the comb, collect nectar and pollen, and guard the hive.
• Drones: Fertile males. Their main function is to mate with the queen. They do not collect food or defend the hive, and they have no sting.

Step 3: Check each option

• A. Clean the cells: This is a worker's job, so it is wrong.
• B. Mate with the queen: This is the drone's role, so it is correct.
• C. Protect the colony: Workers (the guards) do this, so it is wrong.
• D. Lay eggs: Only the queen does this, so it is wrong.

Step 4: Answer The drone is the male bee, and its function is to mate with the queen (usually during the nuptial flight). After mating, the drone dies. Drones that do not mate are driven out of the hive when food becomes scarce.

Tip: Remember "Drone = Dude = Dad." The drone is the male, so it is the father of the colony. The queen lays the eggs and the workers do all the work.