Butterflies of Malaysia Stamp

Date of Issue : 6-Feb-2007

Stamps Classification : Malaysia Animal Stamp; Malaysia Insect Stamp; Malaysia Butterfly Stamp

Pos Malaysia team announced that they will issue a set of special stamps and First Day Cover featuring butterflies of Malaysia.

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

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Unique Marine Life Stamp

Date of Issue : 6-Feb-2007

Stamps Classification : Malaysia Marine Life Stamp; Malaysia Fish Stamp

The South China Sea surrounding East Malaysia and Brunei extend to great depths and contain life forms which are both fascinating and mysterious. From the beautiful coral fishes to the elusive deep-sea nautilus, these marine species descended from the ancient fish-like creatures of the Ordovician period some 480 million years ago. A number of these fishes have evolved into weird and wonderful shapes and colors that they hardly look like fish. Among the unique and fascinating marine species found in the tropical waters of Sabah and Sarawak are the scorpion fish and the deep-dwelling nautilus.

Leaf Scorpionfish

Denomination : 50sen

Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm

The Scorpion fish is a small compressed fish, with high and long dorsal fins. Measuring up to 10 centimeters, it may appear in a variety of colors including white, yellow, pink, green, brown or black. Normally encountered on reef front and along the external reef, it stands still with the dorsal fin lifted, rocking and mimicking a seaweed that is being moved by the sea currents. It is an ambush predator, often hiding amongst corals and gorgonians. Algae and hydroids can grow on its skin that change from time to time providing excellent camouflage.



Orangestriped Triggerfish

Denomination : 50sen

Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm

Orangestriped Triggerfish can be found in the warm parts of the Indo-Pacific Ocean and Red Sea. They live in areas of rich coral growth and on clear lagoon, channel or seaward reefs 2 to 50 meters in depth. This species is found present in coral reef areas of the Brunei Darussalam's offshore waters. Adults can reach maximum of 30 cm in length.

Male Orangestriped Triggerfish are territorial. Spawning behavior involve loose aggregations and builds its nest in channels. Eggs are laid in a single spongy cluster within rock crevices and dug-out shallow sand areas. Eggs are hatched at night. The fish is a hunter and is predatory in nature. It feeds on algae, coral, sea urchins, crabs, mollusks, starfish, worm and sponges. The fish would seek shelter in coral crevices when threatened or when retiring for the night.



Chambered Nautilus

Denomination : RM1

Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm

Having survived relatively unchanged for millions of years, nautiluses represent the only living members of the subclass Nautiloidea, and are often considered to be "living fossils". The nautilus is similar in general form to other cephalopods (such as cuttlefish), with a prominent head and tentacles. Nautilus pompilius is the largest species in the genus. While some nautilus may grow up to 268 mm in diameter, the majority of nautiluses never exceed 20 cm. Nautilus spends daytime hours in very deep water up to 400 meters, slowly ascending to 200 meters after sunset.



Spotted Boxfish

Denomination : RM1

Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm

The spotted boxfish has a widespread distribution in the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific areas. It is one of the many colorful coral reef fishes found present in Brunei Darussalam's offshore waters. They can be found around calm shallow waters near coral reef areas. The fish exhibits "sexual dichromatism" whereby the sexes are of different colors. The female is brownish and densely covered with white spots. The male, is more colorful with dark blue sides blotched with brilliant yellow spots and marking. The dorsal area is black with white spots. The head and tail are trimmed in golden color. The fish grows to about 10 to 20 cm in length.

They are territorial and live in small haremic groups, typically one male to several females. They are omnivorous and forage alone within their home ranges for sponges, worms, tunicates and other small bottom-dwelling invertebrates. The males defend their territories against other male.



Chambered Nautilus & Spotted Boxfish Miniature Sheet

Denomination : RM1 x 2

Miniature Sheet Size : 100mm x 70mm

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