As an expert in the field of entomology with a focus on bee behavior and ecology, I can provide you with a detailed answer to your question.

Firstly, it's important to clarify that not all bees are honey bees, and not all bees make honey. Honey bees, specifically the species *Apis mellifera*, are the most well-known for their honey production. However, there are over 20,000 known species of bees globally, and they exhibit a wide range of behaviors and nesting habits.

The information you provided seems to refer to bumble bees, which are a type of ground-nesting bee. Bumble bees, from the genus *Bombus*, are indeed capable of making honey, but their honey production is significantly different from that of honey bees. Bumble bees are social insects that live in colonies, and they do have a queen, male bees (drones), and worker bees, similar to honey bees. However, the structure of a bumble bee colony is much smaller, with an average of around 50 to 400 individuals, depending on the species and the time of year.

Bumble bees typically nest in the ground, under sheds, in compost piles, or in rotting wood, as you mentioned. They create a nest structure made of wax, where they store their honey and pollen. The honey produced by bumble bees is primarily used as a food source for the colony during times when flowers are not in bloom, and it is also used to feed the developing larvae.

Unlike honey bees, which have a highly organized society and produce large quantities of honey that can be harvested by humans, bumble bees produce much smaller amounts of honey. Their honey is stored in wax pots within the nest and is not typically harvested by humans. The honey of bumble bees is also not as well-known or as widely consumed as that of honey bees.

It's also worth noting that not all ground-nesting bees are bumble bees, and not all of them make honey. There are many other types of solitary and social bees that have different nesting habits and behaviors. Some ground-nesting bees, such as mining bees and sweat bees, do not make honey at all.

In conclusion, while bees that nest in the ground can indeed make honey, it is primarily bumble bees that are known for this behavior. Their honey production is on a much smaller scale compared to honey bees, and it is not typically harvested or consumed by humans.

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It is common to find colonies under sheds or in compost piles, in addition to rotting wood. The hives have a queen bee, helped by drones (male bees) and worker bees. A large bumble bee hive has an average of 400 bees. Unlike other ground bees that do not make honey, bumble bees make honey with the pollen.read more >>