The Short Version
Drone bees have multiple documented functional roles within a colony, making this claim demonstrably false. Peer-reviewed research shows drones contribute to brood-nest thermoregulation, with older drones contributing more. Beyond that, their reproductive role — providing genetic diversity and colony continuity — is itself a core colony-level function recognized across all credible sources. The claim's absolute wording ("no functional role or contribution") is invalidated by this well-established evidence.