New bee species named Lucifer with unique devil horns discovered

According to research published in the journal Hymenoptera, Australian scientists announced the discovery of a new species of bee and named it Lucifer because this species possesses a pair of small "horns" that look very similar to the devil.

Experts discovered the new bee species while surveying a critically endangered wildflower in the Goldfields of Western Australia in 2019.

The new species has been named Megachile Lucifer. Curtin University ecologist Kit Prendergast, who led the research team, said the female bee has a pair of beautiful little horns on its face that inspired the name of the new species.

“While writing the description of this species, I watched the show Lucifer on Netflix and felt the name was perfectly appropriate,” said ecologist Kit.

Megachile lucifer bee. Photo: Kit S. Prendergast; Joshua W. Campbell.

Researchers say DNA testing showed the bee did not match any previously recorded species in databases, making it the first new species found in more than 20 years.

Each one, which is about 0.9 mm long, may be used to access flowers, compete for resources, and defend the nest, according to the researchers. So far, they have not been able to determine the main function of the horns.

The team also found that the horns were only present in female bees. Ecologist Kit said the new discovery highlighted the need to study native bees and warned that the new species could be at risk from habitat disturbance and the impacts of climate change.