Scientists have identified a new bee species in Western Australia — the Megachile (Hackeriapis) lucifer, nicknamed the “Lucifer bee” for its horned, devilish appearance.
Curtin University researcher Kit Prendergast discovered the bee in 2019 while surveying a critically endangered wildflower and was immediately struck by the female’s distinctive facial horns.
Named after the TV show Lucifer, the species is the first new member of its group to be described in over 20 years, highlighting how much biodiversity remains undiscovered.
Prendergast hopes the find will encourage greater surveying of native bees, especially in mining areas where habitats are under threat.
“Without knowing which native bees exist and what plants they depend on, we risk losing both before we even realise they’re there,” she warned.
The discovery underscores the vital role of wild pollinators — already in decline due to habitat loss and climate change — in supporting Australia’s ecosystems.
