Overview
- Curtin University researchers formally described Megachile lucifer after observing it pollinate a rare wildflower in the Goldfields about 500 kilometers east of Perth.
- Females have small horn-like facial structures that help with defense as well as collecting pollen and nectar.
- The species has so far only been recorded in the Goldfields region, and its broader range and conservation status remain unknown.
- Dr. Kit Prendergast named the bee after the Netflix series Lucifer to draw public attention to safeguarding native bees and at-risk flora.
- DNA analyses confirmed the bee as distinct, marking the first newly described member of its group in more than 20 years.