Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Species in news
Why in news?
Australian scientists discover new 'lucifer' bee with devil-like horns in the state of Western Australia.
Scientific name –Megachile lucifer.
Family – Megachilidae.
Genus – Megachile.
Subgenus – Hackeriapis.
Discovered Location –Found in the Goldfields region of Western Australia, while surveying the critically endangered wildflower Marianthus aquilonaris in 2019.
Inspiration –The name was also a playful nod to the Netflix series Lucifer.
Lucifer means "light bringer" in Latin.
Unique Features –
Distinctive Horns in Female Bees – Female bees have tiny horn-like facial protrusions—absent in males—that inspired the species' devilish name.
Size – The horns, each measured at about 0.9 millimeters long.
These horns may serve a defensive or ecological function, possibly aiding in flower access or deterring predators.
Genetic Breakthrough – A DNA test confirmed this bee species doesn't match any known bees, marking it as the first newly identified member of its group in over 20 years.
Ecological Role –It plays a vital role in pollinating endangered native plants, especially in isolated ecosystems threatened by habitat loss and climate change.
Significance – Australia has about 2,000 native bee species, with over 300 still unnamed and undescribed; this discovery emphasizes the importance of studying native bees.
