Insect queen and what one is to drones? (6)
I believe the answer is:
mother
'what one is to drones?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'insect queen' is the wordplay.
'insect' becomes 'moth' (moth is a kind of insect).
'queen' becomes 'ER' (abbreviation for Elizabeth Regina).
'moth'+'er'='MOTHER'
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mother that I've seen before include "Nature so-called" , "One who pours the tea?" , "Parent to her Tom, oddly" , "Be overprotective" , "Dam" .)