Solitary bees resting together on one dry steam at night.Honey bees are not the only bee species that are significant for human wellbeing. Nomia bees are a group of native bee species that do not produce honey but they are important pollinators of crops and wild plants. Nomia bees are not aggressive, although they do have a mild sting that is much less painful than that of a honey bee. They can sting for defence. They are solid looking small-medium sized (7-12 mm in length) bees with light sometimes glossy stripes on the abdomen. Nomia bees nest in the ground and live independently. This fact sheet provides information about these bees to encourage farmers to understand and protect them to help ensure that their crops are effectively pollinated.