YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – It's that time of year again when honeybees are buzzing around Yuma County, ready to pollinate local melons.

According to the University of Arizona, honeybees are the most important pollinators in agriculture.

One of the postdoctoral researchers, Dr. Samuel Dizka Duarte, said about a third of the food we eat is pollinated by honeybees.

Yuma pollinates many melon and seed crops.

“Here you can see the canteloupe fields being pollinated by honeybees. The bees are in white boxes, and each box contains a hive. In the spring, around May or June, you'll see the hives as supports for sowing broccoli seeds. In January or February, you'll see swarms of honeybees, and in the fall, around September or October, it's fall melon season.”

Dr. Samuel Dascua Duarte, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Arizona

Duarte says honeybees are generally safe.

You won't be stung unless you get too close to the hive or are in the beeline of the bees as they enter the hive.