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Getty / Francesco Bergamaschi
As insignificant—and sometimes downright bothersome—as having bees in your backyard may seem, they are essential to the growth and production of your garden. "Bees provide pollination to the plants, which in turn will develop into productive, healthy specimens," explains certified Master Beekeeper Bill Hesbach of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association. "If the plants produce fruit, the bounty is enhanced, or in the case of seed-producing plants, the seed crop will be more plentiful. Pollinators also increase the entire ecosphere's health because they pollinate all the trees, shrubs, and ornamentals in the area."
And while some species of bees are known to sting when agitated, not all types of garden bees should be deemed threatening. "Most bees in North America have a stinger, however bees by nature are far less likely to sting when compared to a hornet or wasp," explains Justin Luna, a beekeeper at Galactic Gold. "Bees are pollinators, their primary goal is to seek out nectar, not to attack." Interested in learning more about different kinds of bees and what benefits they bring to your garden? We asked Hesbach, Luna, and Patrick Harrison, a beekeeper at HarBee Beekeeping, how to identify the most common types of bees and how important they are for your plants, and here's what they had to share.