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Butterflies of Honkong--Hongkong

Posted by ShrikantModh | 5:40 PM | | 1 comments »

Hong Kong Butterflies II
Date of Issue: 14 June 2007
Designer: Benny Lau


"Hong Kong Butterflies II" is a direct sequel to the "Hong Kong Butterflies" issued in 1979. With their exquisitely delicate wings and graceful flight, these fascinating butterflies evoke our admiration and reinforce our commitment to nature conservation.
Depicting the adults perching on their host plants (caterpillar food plants), the set of five stamps captures the beauty of butterflies from different families.


Faunis eumeus - $1.40 A member of the Amathusiidae family, Faunis eumeus has dark brown wings. A wide light brown band runs across its dorsal forewing, and its ventral wing is dotted with a string of white spots which resemble shining pearls. Its large blue eyes contrast sharply with its yellow head. Used to flying close to the ground, Faunis eumeus is seen to inhabit moist and shady areas. Smilax china is one of its larval food plants.

Prioneris philonome - $1.80 Prioneris philonome belongs to the Pieridae family. Its dorsal wings are chalk white while the ventral hindwings are yellow. Both have well-defined black veins. The butterfly’s common name originates from the red spot at the base of its hindwing. The male of this species flies fast and displays hilltopping behaviour. The leaves of Capparidaceae plants are its larval food plants.

Polyura nepenthes - $2.40 Polyura nepenthes belongs to the Nymphalidae family. Relatively large in size, its wings are white with black patches on the dorsal forewings and suffused black margins on the hindwings. Two brownish-yellow bands run across its ventral wing with two wing tails on its hindwing. Polyura nepenthes has a straight flight. Ventilago leiocarpa and Archidendron lucidum are its larval food plants.

Tajuria maculata - $3.00Tajuria maculata is a small sized butterfly from the Lycaenidae family. Its ventral wings are white with black leopard like spot pattern. There is metallic lustre on its dorsal wings. This butterfly has tails on its hindwings which are easily mistaken for antennae so that it has a better chance to escape from its predators. Tajuria maculata usually engages in erratic flight with high flapping frequency. Taxillus chinensis is one of its larval food plants.

Acraea issoria - $5.00Acraea issoria is a slow-flying butterfly of the Acraeidae family. First discovered in Hong Kong in 2002, it is the only local Acraeidae species recorded. Predominantly yellowish orange in colour, its wings are suffused with black lines and blackish brown sawtooth marks along the outer margins. The contour of the forewing is relatively straight while it is rounder for the hindwing. Strongly territorial, Acraea issoria is often found patrolling in the same areas. Boehmeria is one of its larval food plants.

1 comments

  1. Anonymous // July 1, 2008 at 10:00 AM  

    Who did the paintings of these butterflies?

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