These are the male bees, and are generally found in the hive only from May to November: though they may remain all winter, and are not infrequently absent during the summer. Their presence or absence depends on the present and prospective condition of the colony. If they are needed, or likely to be needed, then they are present. There are in nature several hundred in each colony. The number may and should be greatly reduced by the apiarist. These (Fig. 17) are shorter than the queen, being less than three-fourths of an inch in length, are more robust and bulky than either the queen or workers, and are easily recognized when flying by their loud, startling hum. As in other societies, the least useful make the most noise. This loud hum is caused by the less rapid vibration of their large, heavy wings. Their flight is more heavy and lumbering than that of the workers. Their ligula, labial palpi, and maxillæ--like the same in the queen bee--are short, while their jaws (Fig. 21, _a_) possess the rudimentary tooth, and are much the same in form as those of the queen, but are heavier, though not so strong as those of the workers. Their eyes (Fig. 4) are very prominent, meet above, and thus the simple eyes are thrown forward. Their posterior legs are convex on the outside (Fig. 18), so, like the queens, they have no pollen baskets. The drones are without the defensive organ, having no sting, while their special sex-organs (Fig. 10) are not unlike those of other insects, and have already been sufficiently described. [Illustration: Fig. 18. _Part of Leg of Drone, magnified._ _t_--Tibia. _p_--Broadened tibia and basal tarsus. _t s_--Joints of Tarsus, _c_--Claws. ]