These special stamps and First Day Cover are on sale on the April 24 and aims to show off the eight of the rarest and most stunning unique winged creatures. These butterflies have some of the most alluring names – Smaller Wood Nymph, Malayan Lacewing, Malay Red Harlequin, Glorious Begum, Green Dragontail, Blue Glassy Tiger, Common Rose and Five-Bar Swordtail.
Themed ‘Butterflies of Malaysia’, they attempt to convey a message of conservation to the public. “We aim to increase preservation awareness of the butterfly habitats for future generations by portraying these butterflies in the stamps,” said Manager of Business Development and Marketing, Yasmin Bt. Ramli.
The butterfly collection will be the third issue this year and this will be a very unique issue because, for the first time in the world, there is a die cut stamp in the shape of a Five-Bar Swordtail she added.
Among the items of sale are 20pieces of RM 0.30, RM 0.50 and RM 1 stamps (RM 6, RM 10 and RM 20 respectively), miniature sheet (120mm x 70mm) enhanced with special die cut (RM 5), First Day Cover (RM 0.30), stamp book (RM 3) and Pos Malaysia folder (RM 5.50). A complete set that includes all of the above is sold for RM 52.50 at Pos Malaysia offices nationwide.
Malaysia has about 1,000 butterfly species and about half of these are restricted to habitats from sea level to 750 metres above sea level. Although some species can be easily seen in parks, gardens and other secondary vegetation, most Malaysian butterflies are forest dwellers. Some butterflies are habitat-specific and exist only in a specific ecosystem type.
Butterflies are generally day-flying insects of the order Lepidoptera, with often colourful wings. Butterflies feed primarily on nectar from flowers and play an important role as one of the major agent of pollination. However, caterpillars are known to destroy crops and they are considered pests in these circumstances. Butterfly viewing is becoming an increasingly popular hobby. Some species are threatened by collection and habitat loss and require protection by law.
Common rose (Atrophaneura aristolochiae)Denomination : 30sen
Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm
Seen in the lowland forests throughout Malaysia, this beautiful butterfly is distasteful to most insectivorous birds and exhibits warning colours. The larvae have thick fleshy tubercles and is grayish red in colour.
Smaller Wood Nymph (Ideopsis gaura perakana)Denomination : 30sen
Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm
This butterfly is more commonly found in forested hills and less seen on the plains. It has an attractive wing pattern of dark markings over a light wing base. Males are darker in colour than females and have narrower wings.
Malayan Lacewing (Cathosia hypsea hypsina)Denomination : 30sen
Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm
Males of this species have a pinkish bloom on the orange area of the upperside of the wing and females are more yellow in colour. Eggs are laid, many at a time and the emerging young larvae are wine-red coloured.
Green Dragontail (Lamproptera meges)Denomination : 30sen
Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm
With is wings beating rapidly and its long drooping tail: this butterfly books like a dragonfly in flight. Coupled with partly-transparent wings, this species is unlike almost all other butterflies. It is considered vulnerable and in need of protection in Peninsular Malaysia.
Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis vulgaris)Denomination : 30sen
Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm
This butterfly is common in scrubland and the fringes of forests. It is also found in coastal mangrove areas. Due to certain plants that it feeds on, this species is known to be distasteful to birds.
Malay Red Harleguin (Paralaxita damajanti damajanti)Denomination : 50sen
Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm
This species lives at moderate elevations on the hills and are usually in dense forests. The females are paler than the males. The underside is beautifully marked with black streaks crossed with metallic blue.
Glorious Begum (agatasa calydonia calydonia)Denomination : RM1
Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm
This butterfly is rare in Peninsular Malaysia. It frequents more open forests and is often encountered at low to moderate elevations and are attracted to rotten fruit. The females are larger, paler and have broader wings than males.
Five-bar Swordtail (Graphium antiphates)Denomination : RM5
Stamp Size : 50mm x 40mm
This species is commonly seen on roads and forest clearings and males are sometimes seen congregating on moist spots. It is known for its swiftness in flight. The larva in its early stages is pure white marked only with thin transverse lines of black or dark green
Five-bar Swordtail (Graphium antiphates) Miniature Sheet
Denomination : RM5
Miniature Sheet Size : 120mm x 70mm
Tiada ulasan:
Catat Ulasan