A new species of bee has been discovered in Western Australia’s Goldfields region, named megachile (Hackeriapis) lucifer due to its horned face and the Netflix character. This is the first addition to its group in over 20 years, highlighting the lack of knowledge about australia’s native pollinators.
the bee was discovered during surveys of the critically endangered wildflower Marianthus aquilonarius,which only grows in the bremer range region between Norseman and Hyden. The lead author of this revelation is Dr Kit Prendergast from Curtin School of Molecular and Life Sciences.
According to Dr Prendergast, she found this unique bee while surveying a rare plant in the Goldfields. she noticed it visiting both the endangered wildflower and a nearby mallee tree.
The bee’s horned face inspired its name lucifer, which means “light-bringer” in Latin. It also serves as a playful nod to its devilish appearance.
This discovery highlights the lack of knowledge about Australia’s native pollinators, with this being the first addition to its group in over 20 years. It also emphasizes the importance of preserving and protecting endangered plant species, as they play a crucial role in supporting diverse pollinator populations.
Invasive species like fruit flies can pose a threat to forest ecosystems, further emphasizing the need for more research on native pollinators and their habitats. This new discovery adds to our understanding of these importent creatures and highlights the need for continued efforts towards their conservation.
The discovery of a new species of bee has been made in the Goldfields region of Western Australia.The female bee has unique horns on her face which inspired its name - Megachile Lucifer. This new species was found in the same area as an endangered wildflower, highlighting the importance of understanding native bees before their habitats are disturbed.
The female Megachile Lucifer has small horns on her face which gave inspiration for its name from the Netflix show “Lucifer”. The researcher who discovered this new species is also a fan of the show and found it fitting to name it after the character. DNA barcoding confirmed that both male and female bees were from the same species and did not match any known bees in databases or museum collections.
This discovery highlights how much life we still have to discover, especially in areas at risk such as mining sites. It also emphasizes the importance of surveying for native bees before disturbing their habitats to prevent losing both plants and insects without even realizing they exist.
The research was supported by various organizations and the publication coincides with Australian Pollinator Week, which celebrates the crucial role of bees and other insects in maintaining healthy ecosystems and food production.
research article:
Prendergast KS, Campbell JW (2025) Megachile (Hackeriapis) lucifer (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae), a new megachilid with demon-like horns that visits the critically Endangered Marianthus aquilonaris (Pittosporaceae). Journal of Hymenoptera research 98: 1017-1030. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.166350
This is so exciting! Can’t wait to learn more about this new bee species.