There are more than 20,000 species of bees around the world and one has been added following a survey of pollinators in one of Australia’s most remote areas.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports that a new “horned” bee species has been discovered in Western Australia’s Bremer Ranges. The area is approximately 600 kilometers (373 miles) east of Perth, one of the world’s most remote cities.
Local bee scientist Dr Kit Prendergast was stunned by the biodiversity of the area, saying: “I’ve never seen so many insects, not just native bees but wasps, flies. It’s incredible.”
The highlight of the trip was checking out the critically endangered native flower, Marianthus aquilonaris, endemic to the Bremer Mountains. Prendergast noticed it was being cared for by a unique-looking pollinator. Its head is adorned with a pair of what appear to be horns. The never-before-seen bee was dubbed “Lucifer’s Bee” after the Netflix series aired.
It’s unclear what the function of these “horns” is, but only females have them. They are solitary bees. Bees are thought of as social creatures living in large colonies, but for the vast majority of bee species, this is not the case.
About 90% of the world’s bees are solitary, with females doing everything from pollination to raising their young. In other words, like most working mothers, all female solitary bees can be considered queens.
The area is rarely inhabited but is known for mining activities that, while lucrative, cause huge ecological damage. As more projects are underway, the discovery of Lucifer bees raises important questions about the environmental impact of land cleared for mining. It’s also a reminder that there are still wonderful, untouched secrets in nature.
Economic development does not have to be at the expense of biodiversity, but it often is. That’s why staying informed and engaging in productive conversations to help spread the word is so important to protect the voiceless victims of unsustainable growth.
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