A newly identified species of native bee, named Megachile (Hackeriapis) lucifer, has been discovered in the Goldfields region of Western Australia. This remarkable bee, noted for its tiny, devil-like “horns,” emphasizes the ongoing need for research into the many unknown aspects of Australia’s native pollinators.
This striking bee species was found during surveys of the critically endangered wildflower Marianthus aquilonarius, which only grows in the Bremer Range area between the towns of Norseman and Hyden. Dr. Kit Prendergast, a Curtin Adjunct Research Fellow at the Curtin School of Molecular and Life Sciences, led the research. He shared that the female bee’s horned face inspired its name lucifer—Latin for “light-bringer”—while also serving as a whimsical nod to its devilish appearance.
Dr. Prendergast recounted his discovery of the species while examining the rare plant that supports it. “The female had these incredible little horns on her face. When writing up the new species description, I was watching the Netflix show Lucifer at the time, and the name just fit perfectly,” he explained.
Through DNA barcoding, Prendergast confirmed that both the male and female belonged to the same species and that the specimens did not correspond to any known types in existing DNA databases or museum collections. The identification represents the first addition to this particular bee group in over two decades, illustrating how much biodiversity remains undiscovered, notably in areas threatened by mining activities like the Goldfields.
Dr. Prendergast stressed the need to understand native bee populations before their habitats face disruption. “Because the new species was found in the same limited area as the endangered wildflower, both could be jeopardized by habitat disturbance and other dangers like climate change,” he noted. He pointed out that many mining companies currently do not conduct surveys for native bees, which means that potentially crucial species that help sustain threatened plants and ecosystems may be overlooked.
He warned that without a clear understanding of which native bees exist and their dependence on specific plants, the threat of losing them before realizing their presence becomes very real.
The research findings were published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research, coinciding with Australian Pollinator Week, which celebrates the essential roles played by bees, butterflies, and other insects in supporting healthy ecosystems and food production.
Support for this research came from the Atlas of Living Australia, the Goldfields Environmental Management Group, and the USDA Agricultural Research Service, highlighting a collaborative effort to protect and understand Australia’s unique biodiversity.