Crossword Genius

Drone to exist on energy (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bee

'drone' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'exist on energy' is the wordplay.
'exist' becomes 'be' (synonyms).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (in a down clue, letters appear on others).
'energy' becomes 'e' (physics symbol as in E=mce).
'be'+'e'='BEE'

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for bee that I've seen before include "A honey-maker" , "Busy person" , "Insect, may be in bonnet" , "Insect that bumbles?" , "Hive worker" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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