Researchers in Western Australia’s Goldfields discovered a new leafcutter bee, Megachile lucifer, while surveying the endangered wildflower Marianthus aquilonarius. Female bees have tiny horn-like projections, while males are hornless; DNA confirmed both sexes belong to the same, previously undescribed species. The bee was observed only within a narrow range in the Bremer Range and—together with the rare plant—may be threatened by mining and habitat disturbance. The finding, the first new member of this bee group described in over 20 years, highlights how much biodiversity remains to be documented.
New 'Devil' Bee Discovered in Australia: Meet Megachile lucifer, a Tiny Horned Leafcutter
Researchers in Western Australia’s Goldfields discovered a new leafcutter bee, Megachile lucifer, while surveying the endangered wildflower Marianthus aquilonarius. Female bees have tiny horn-like projections, while males are hornless; DNA confirmed both sexes belong to the same, previously undescribed species. The bee was observed only within a narrow range in the Bremer Range and—together with the rare plant—may be threatened by mining and habitat disturbance. The finding, the first new member of this bee group described in over 20 years, highlights how much biodiversity remains to be documented.
01:40 PM, 11/11/2025Science
Megachile lucifer, a newly described leafcutter bee from Western Australia, has scientists buzzing: the females sport a pair of small horn-like projections on their faces, a striking and unusual trait for this group.
The species was detailed in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research after researchers working in the Goldfields region of Western Australia found the bee while surveying the endangered wildflower Marianthus aquilonarius. That plant is restricted to the Bremer Range in Coolgardie, a narrow area between the towns of Norseman and Hyden, and faces threats from mining, vehicle movements and other human activities.
Appearance and discovery
Megachile lucifer is predominantly black with narrow lighter bands and accents. The most remarkable feature is the pair of tiny, spiky projections on the faces of females; males lack these horns. DNA analysis confirmed that the horned females and hornless males belong to the same species and that their genetic profile differs from any previously described species.
“I discovered the species while surveying a rare plant in the Goldfields and noticed this bee visiting both the endangered wildflower and a nearby mallee tree,” said Dr. Kit Prendergast, the study’s lead author. “The female had these incredible little horns on her face.”
Why the name?
Prendergast — sometimes known by the nickname "The Bee Babette" — chose the species name lucifer (Latin for "light-bringer") inspired by the bee’s devilish appearance and a moment of cultural association. The name highlights the bee’s unusual facial morphology rather than any behavioral trait.
About the genus
Megachile is a large genus of solitary bees (commonly called leafcutters) with more than 1,500 species worldwide. Unlike honeybees, these solitary bees construct individual nests or burrows. Nests typically consist of a linear series of cells at the back of a cavity, with each cell provisioned with pollen and nectar and sealed often using cut leaves or other materials.
Conservation implications
This is the first new member of this particular bee group to be formally described in more than 20 years, underscoring how much biodiversity remains undocumented even in relatively well-studied regions. Because the bee was found visiting an endangered plant within a very restricted range, both the insect and the wildflower may be vulnerable to habitat disturbance, mining activity and climate change.
What this means
The discovery highlights the importance of habitat protection and targeted surveys: preserving small, specialized ecosystems can safeguard multiple, interconnected species that might otherwise go unnoticed until they are at risk.