Photo: Kit S. Prendergast, Joshua W. Campbell/Journal of Hymenoptera Research
Scientists in Australia have discovered a new species of native bee, named Megachile lucifer, characterized by its tiny, devil-like horns. The bee was found in 2019 during a survey of a critically endangered wildflower in Western Australia's Goldfields, as reported in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research on Monday (November 10). Lead author Dr. Kit Prendergast from Curtin University explained that the female bee's distinctive upward-pointing horns inspired its name, which is a playful nod to the show Lucifer that Prendergast was watching at the time.
The discovery is significant because DNA tests confirmed that Megachile lucifer does not match any known bee species, making it the first new member of this group described in over 20 years. The horns, each about 0.9 millimeters long, might help the bees access flowers, compete for resources, or defend nests, although their exact function remains unknown. The male bees of this species do not have horns.
Dr. Prendergast emphasized the importance of studying native bees, noting that the new species and the endangered wildflower it was found near could be threatened by habitat disturbance and climate change. Australia has around 2,000 native bee species, with more than 300 yet to be scientifically named and described.