At the end of the summer, the queen bee's mating season also comes to an end, meaning that the drones no longer fulfill any function for the colony. They are then pushed out of the hive by the workers and eventually driven out. As drones are completely dependent on the hive for food, they no longer receive any food and starve to death outside the flight hole. This harsh procedure is reminiscent of a battlefield and gave the so-called "drone battle" its name.