Australian Researchers Identify New ‘Lucifer’ Species of Bee

As if deadly snakes, spiders, and sharks weren’t enough, Australia has now revealed a new intriguing insect: a “lucifer” bee with devil-like horns. The species, named Megachile (Hackeriapis) lucifer, was discovered in Western Australia, Curtin University announced on Tuesday.

Kit Prendergast, from the university’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, first came across the bee in 2019 while surveying a critically endangered wildflower. She was immediately struck by the insect’s unusual appearance.

“The female had these remarkable little horns on her face,” Prendergast said.

A fan of the Netflix series “Lucifer,” she felt the name perfectly suited the bee’s devilish features.

“This is the first new member of this bee group to be described in more than 20 years, which highlights how much biodiversity is still waiting to be discovered,” Prendergast added.

She also expressed hope that the discovery would raise awareness about the many undiscovered species that may still exist, particularly in regions threatened by mining activities.

"Many mining companies still don't survey for native bees, so we may be missing undescribed species, including those that play crucial roles in supporting threatened plants and ecosystems," she said.

"Without knowing which native bees exist and what plants they depend on, we risk losing both before we even realise they're there."

Almost all flowering plants depend on wild pollinators, particularly bees, but habitat loss and climate change are driving many vital species to the brink of extinction.