The Butterflies–III of Liechtenstein

The “Butterflies – III” issue, again designed by Stefan Erne, depicts two more harbingers of spring, the Orange Tip and the Peacock.

The stamps have been issued by Liechtenstein Post on June 6, 2011.

 
 

The “Peacock”, Inachis io (face value CHF 2.20) from the Nymphalidae family was the “Butterfly of the Year 2009”. The Peacock can be found in woods, fields, meadows, pastures, parks, and gardens, and from lowlands up to 2,500 metres elevation. It is a relatively common butterfly seen in many European parks and gardens. 

Because of global warming this butterfly now regularly forms a second generation in the late summer, it has been chosen to draw attention to the consequences of climate change. The Peacock butterfly is resident in much of its range, often wintering in buildings or trees. It therefore often appears quite early in spring.

The conspicuous black, blue and yellow eyespots on its russet-coloured wings serve as effective protection for the Peacock against its natural enemies. When danger threatens, in a flash the butterfly spreads its wings to display their striking upper side, leading the predator to imagine itself confronted by a large creature proportional to the eye(spot)s.

 

The Orange Tip  or  Anthocharis cardamines (face value CHF 5.00), whose German name the “Aurora” Butterfly was inspired by the goddess of the dawn, can be observed in spring in large swarms in Liechtenstein’s valley landscape.

Both males and females of this species of White have white wings, the outer half of the forewings being coloured orange only on the males. The males are a common sight in spring flying along hedgerows and damp meadows in search of the more reclusive female which lacks the orange.The irregular yellowish/dirty green and white speckled pattern on the underside of the hind wings is however common to both sexes.

 

Blogger Tags: Liechtenstein, Butterflies stamp, The Orange Tip, The Peacock

Butterfly on Ireland stamps 2000

In 2000, Ireland Post has issued the beautiful mini sheet stamps depicted the four butterflies in the flower plant. The species are Inachis Io, Aglais urticae, Argynnis paphia, Anthocharis cardamines.

Inachis Io or the Peacock can be found in woods, fields, meadows, pastures, parks, and gardens, and from lowlands up to 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) elevation. It is a relatively common butterfly seen in many European parks and gardens.

Aglais urticae is a well-known colourful butterfly, found in temperate Europe. This is a species often found in gardens. The common named is The Small Tortoiseshell.

Argynnis paphia or Silver-washed Fritillary is a European species of butterfly, which was in decline for much of the 1970s and 1980s, but seems to be coming back to many of its old territories. Its has deep orange with black spots on the upper side of its wings, and has a wingspan of 54–70 mm, with the male being smaller and paler than the female. The underside is green, and, unlike other fritillaries, has silver streaks instead of silver spots, hence the name silver-washed.

Anthocharis cardamines is a butterfly in the Pieridae family and have orange tip to his forewings. Therefore so called the Orange tip butterfly. It can be found across Europe.