NEW STAMPS DEPICT BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY
A set of new special stamps from the tiny Asian sultanate of Occussi-Ambeno in May depicts the beautiful Monarch Butterfly, according to the Postmaster-General of the country, Sir Hantuk Belagar.
The two stamps have a face value of 60 cents and $2, and have been printed in full colour on white gloss paper by the Imperial Government Printing Office, KDPN. The stamps are perf 12.
The Monarch Butterfly is one of the more amazing examples of lepidoptera to be found in our tropical country. It begins life as an egg on the Swan plant (Asclepias syrica) or Milkweed, and when it hatches into a tiny caterpillar, it feeds on the leaves of that plant to the exclusion of everything else. The white sap of the swan plant is toxic to most other life forms, but by eating it, the caterpillar becomes toxic to most other creatures, and its prominent yellow and black bands are a warning to birds and others who may seek a tasty morsel that they should stay well clear of this caterpillar. After some weeks, the caterpillar grows to over one inch long and then pupates by transforming into a green sac that hangs batlike from stems or leaves. This finally hatches into the familiar butterfly with its brightly colored wings that is so well known and loved.
Today, there are many threats to the continued survival of the monarch. The most dangerous threat is the widespread proliferation of Paper Wasps, which attack and suck juices from the tiny caterpillars and kill them. The pupa stage is likewise quite unprotected from wasp attacks. Many people including His Majesty the Sultan (May He Live Forever!) are today addressing this problem by growing swan plants in pots and encouraging butterflies to visit and lay eggs on them. To protect the caterpillars from the wasp threat, the pots are taken indoors to let the caterpillars feed and grow and pupate in safe conditions. When the butterflies hatch, they are carefully taken outdoors and released. Many butterflies undertake massive migrations, and many people have tracked and verified these journeys. The photo of the newly-hatched butterfly on this stamp set was taken by His Majesty the Sultan (May He Live Forever!) just before the butterfly began her epic migratory flight to Papua New Guinea. His Majesty requests that all humans worldaround spend time in bringing more butterflies into the world by growing swan plants and actively protect caterpillars from harm.
The new stamps will be placed on sale on Monday 15th May 2000, and while not specifically a commemorative stamp, they will remain on sale for only a short time, two months from date of issue unless stocks are exhausted earlier.
Persons wishing to purchase copies of the new stamp, or any other current stamps of the Sultanate, may send their requests to the Occussi-Ambeno Overseas Philatelic Bureau, P.O. Box 876, Auckland 1000, New Zealand. Please make cheques and checks payable to: Occussi-Ambeno Imperial Executive Commission. Kindly add an allowance for return postage.
For more information
on the Sultanate, please visit the web site:
www.okusi.org/oa
e-mail: oastamps@post.com
