How do drone bees differ from worker bees regarding their mating?

Drone bees differ from worker bees in their mating behavior primarily due to their reproductive role. When drones mate with the queen bee during the nuptial flight, the mating process is extremely intense and culminates in the drone's death. After the mating occurs, the drone's reproductive organ detaches and remains with the queen, leading to the drone's demise shortly thereafter. This singular purpose of mating is a defining characteristic of drones, distinguishing them from worker bees, which do not mate at all and have different responsibilities within the hive.

The other choices highlight aspects that do not align with the biological roles and lifespans of drone bees compared to worker bees. Drones are not responsible for hive cleaning and do not live just a week; their lifespan can be several weeks or even months when not engaged in mating. Additionally, drones are known for mating only once during a short window with the queen, contrasting with the notion of mating multiple times. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the specific roles and lifecycle of drones within the beehive ecosystem.