A newly discovered bee species sporting tiny “horns” has been unveiled in Western Australia’s remote Goldfields region. Named Megachile (Hackeriapis) lucifer, this striking newcomer sheds light on the vast unexplored biodiversity within Australia’s native pollinator populations.
The bee was found during a survey of Marianthus aquilonarius, a critically endangered wildflower restricted to the Bremer Range, nestled between the towns of Norseman and Hyden. Dr. Kit Prendergast, an adjunct research fellow at Curtin University’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, made the discovery while observing the bee visiting both the rare flower and nearby mallee trees.
“The female had these incredible little horns on her face,” explained Dr. Prendergast. “While writing up the new species description, I was watching the Netflix show Lucifer at the time – the name just fit perfectly!”
This playful nod to the devilish appearance of the bee combined with the Latin origin of “lucifer” meaning “light-bringer” cemented the unique moniker. DNA analysis confirmed both male and female specimens belonged to the same species, distinguishing it from any known bee in existing databases or museum collections. In fact, this marks the first new member of this bee group to be described in over two decades – a testament to the enduring mysteries surrounding Australian life.
Beyond its captivating looks, the discovery underscores the critical need for deeper understanding of native bees before their habitats face disturbance. Dr. Prendergast emphasized that both the newly discovered bee and the endangered wildflower share the same limited habitat within the Bremer Range. This makes them vulnerable to shared threats like mining activities, habitat fragmentation, and climate change.
“Many mining companies still don’t survey for native bees,” stated Dr. Prendergast. “We could be overlooking undiscovered species – including those essential for supporting threatened plants and entire ecosystems.” The discovery underscores that we risk losing these vital components of biodiversity before we even know they exist.
The unveiling of this unique bee coincides with Australian Pollinator Week, an annual celebration recognizing the indispensable role pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other insects play in maintaining healthy ecosystems and food production.
