Issue Date:12th JUL'2012
Details:
In recent years, bee colonies have been vanishing mysteriously all over the world. Because bees play an important role in pollinating flowering plants, their disappearance could lead to food shortages. What’s more, at a time when the environment and climate is changing drastically, conservation of biodiversity deserves urgent attention. And because bees play the roles of pollinators, predators, and parasitoids, they directly and indirectly promote biodiversity.
In order to raise understanding about bees, Chunghwa Post will issue a souvenir sheet which comprises six stamps, each featuring a bee species of Taiwan. The stamps are hexagonally shaped. The designs follow:
1. Phimenes flavopictus (NT$5): This predatory wasp can be found in foothills and low-elevation mountains. Its black body has yellow markings, giving it coloring that resembles that of a yellow and black striped tiger. Females build their mud nests in places such as tree trunks and cliff-face crevices. It is also called the “tiger-striped potter wasp” in Chinese.
2. Apis mellifera (NT$10): Commonly known as the western honey bee, this pollinator is distributed in warm low elevation areas. Most western honey bees have a yellowish brown chest. The species’ worker bees have specialized pollen baskets, which can be found on the tibia of their hind legs.
3. Xanthopimpla pedator (NT$5): The range of this parasitic wasp stretches from the plains to hills and low-elevation mountains. The main hosts of this wasp are the larvae and pupae of Lepidoptera. The species was once used to control she-oak pests.
4. Xylocopa tranquebarorum (NT$10): This pollinator is found in low-elevation plains and forests. Its entire body is black except for a few grey fuzzy hairs on its chest. Its wings have a purple, copper sheen to them. Females build their nests by boring holes into dead bamboo.
5. Vespa ducalis (NT$5): This stinging wasp is found in low- and mid-elevation forests. The two golden yellow rings on its abdomen are its most salient feature. Its last four abdominal segments are black.
6. Apis cerana (NT$10): Commonly known as the eastern honey bee, this pollinator is found in low- and mid-elevation mountain areas. Most live in the wild. In its appearance, it greatly resembles the western honey bee. It has alternating yellow and black stripes on its abdomen.
1. Phimenes flavopictus (NT$5): This predatory wasp can be found in foothills and low-elevation mountains. Its black body has yellow markings, giving it coloring that resembles that of a yellow and black striped tiger. Females build their mud nests in places such as tree trunks and cliff-face crevices. It is also called the “tiger-striped potter wasp” in Chinese.
2. Apis mellifera (NT$10): Commonly known as the western honey bee, this pollinator is distributed in warm low elevation areas. Most western honey bees have a yellowish brown chest. The species’ worker bees have specialized pollen baskets, which can be found on the tibia of their hind legs.
3. Xanthopimpla pedator (NT$5): The range of this parasitic wasp stretches from the plains to hills and low-elevation mountains. The main hosts of this wasp are the larvae and pupae of Lepidoptera. The species was once used to control she-oak pests.
4. Xylocopa tranquebarorum (NT$10): This pollinator is found in low-elevation plains and forests. Its entire body is black except for a few grey fuzzy hairs on its chest. Its wings have a purple, copper sheen to them. Females build their nests by boring holes into dead bamboo.
5. Vespa ducalis (NT$5): This stinging wasp is found in low- and mid-elevation forests. The two golden yellow rings on its abdomen are its most salient feature. Its last four abdominal segments are black.
6. Apis cerana (NT$10): Commonly known as the eastern honey bee, this pollinator is found in low- and mid-elevation mountain areas. Most live in the wild. In its appearance, it greatly resembles the western honey bee. It has alternating yellow and black stripes on its abdomen.
The stamps are planned by professor Yang Ping-shih of the College of Bioresources and Agriculture at National Taiwan University, and Dr. Lu Sheng-shan of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, to serve as consultant. The stamps are painted by Hung-tu Ko and printed by China Color Printing Co., Ltd. in color offset.Source-Changchun Post.
Remark:The large FDC has the right size to accommodate the beautiful miniature sheet.The Hexagonal stamps are brilliant.Both the cancellations are great. It is must for any bee thematic collector.Thanks Chen for sending such beautiful FDC by registered on the issue date.This is the ultimate example of a real posted FDC.
No comments:
Post a Comment