Esterases produced by eight species of fungi are capable of hydrolyzing the benzoyl esters of simple sugars. These benzoyl esterases are of two types based on their specificities. One type acts on a broad band of benzoyl esters, including benzoylcholine, and is found only in Aspergillus terricola. The other type is strongly influenced by the position of the benzoyl group on glucose, and by the sugar on which it occurs. It is represented here by seven species of fungi. Both types are strongly inhibited by Phosdrin, and are unaffected by sodium fluoride.