An Australian researcher identified A New species of local bees It has small horns that give it a “satanic” appearance, during a study conducted in the Goldfields mining area in the west of the country, Curtin University reported on Tuesday.
The insect is called “Megachiel (Hakryapis) Lucifer”The foundation, which is based in Perth (Western Australia), said it takes its name from the Latin term Lucifer (“light-bearer”) and, in a playful way, from the character in the popular television series of the same name.
“The female had small horns on her face. At the time I was watching the series “Lucifer” and the name was a perfect fit. Moreover, I am a huge fan of the character,” researcher Kate Prendergast, author of Discovery, explained in the statement.
The scientist determined that DNA tests confirmed that the male and female samples she found belonged to the same species It did not match anyone registered in the databases Nor in museum collections.
The discovery was published in the journal “Journal of Hymenoptera Research“ (Journal of Hymenopteran Research), which focuses on this type of insect, is the first in more than twenty years within this group of bees, most notably How little is known about native pollinators Australians.
“This shows that There is still life to be discovered, even in areas threatened by miningPrendergast said the new bees and the flower they pollinate, Mariantus aquilonarius, an endangered species native to Australia, could be at risk from habitat loss and climate change.
The Goldfields region, located in the remote state of Western Australia, About 600 kilometers east of Perth, It is an important center for the extraction of gold, nickel and other minerals, but it is also home to unique ecosystems, with large areas of shrubland and desert, where endemic species of plants and animals live.
According to the researcher “Many mining companies still do not conduct studies on local bees“This discovery coincides with Australian Pollinator Week, which celebrates the importance of bees, butterflies and other insects in maintaining ecosystems and producing food.
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