What happens to the drones after mating?

After drones mate with a queen, they typically die shortly thereafter due to the physical stress of mating, as their reproductive organs are ejected from their bodies during the process. This means they do not return to the hive after mating. Generally, drones are not integrated back into the hive's social structure after mating. In the fall or in times of resource scarcity, the worker bees will physically eject any remaining drones from the hive to conserve resources, as drones do not contribute to foraging or hive maintenance activities. This behavior is part of the colony's survival strategy during tough conditions, ensuring that all resources are directed toward feeding and maintaining the workers and the queen.