Australian Scientists Discover ‘Lucifer’ Bee With Devil-Like Horns

Australia’s reputation for unusual wildlife just got a new addition  a horned bee named after the devil himself

Researchers from Curtin University have identified a new species of bee, Megachile (Hackeriapis) lucifer, found in Western Australia. The discovery was announced on Tuesday and adds a unique specimen to the nation’s diverse ecosystem

Dr. Kit Prendergast from the university’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences discovered the insect in 2019 while studying a critically endangered wildflower. She said she was immediately struck by the bee’s unusual facial features

“The female had these incredible little horns on her face,” she explained

A fan of the Netflix show Lucifer, Prendergast said the name was a perfect match for the insect’s devilish look

This is the first new species in the Hackeriapis group to be described in more than two decades  a milestone that highlights how much biodiversity remains undiscovered

Prendergast hopes the finding will draw attention to the need for deeper ecological studies, especially in areas affected by mining

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“Many mining companies still don’t survey for native bees, so we may be missing undescribed species that play crucial roles in supporting threatened plants and ecosystems,” she said

She warned that habitat loss and climate change are putting many pollinators vital to nearly all flowering plants  at serious risk of extinction

“Without knowing which native bees exist and what plants they depend on, we risk losing both before we even realise they’re there,” she added

The discovery of the “Lucifer bee” serves as both a scientific triumph and a reminder of nature’s hidden wonders  and the urgent need to protect them

Writer : Mweru Mbugua