Help nature – get the stamp bug

Apr 18 2008 Chester Chronicle

A GIANT Walking Stick and a Flamboyant Flower Beetle, two of Chester Zoo’s numerous inhabitants, helped to launch a new set of Royal Mail stamps.

Assisted by Isolde McGeorge, the zoo’s team leader of reptiles, they posed with enlarged images of some of the 10 First Class stamps which were issued on Tuesday, April 15.

The two insects (the walking stick is the world’s largest stick insect) live in the Tropical Realm; other ‘bugs’ at the zoo include leaf-cutter ants, praying mantis and tarantulas.

Insects is the second in Royal Mail’s Action for Species series, highlighting UK endangered species which are benefiting from conservation plans.

The insects featured on the stamps are: adonis blue butterfly, silver-spotted skipper butterfly, southern damselfly, red-barbed ant, barberry carpet moth, stag beetle, hazel pot beetle, field cricket, purbeck mason wasp and a noble chafer beetle.

A Butterfly House is due to open at the zoo later this year.

The Action for Species series began in September 2007 with Birds and, in 2009, it moves from fauna to flora for the third issue in the series which explores the UK’s rare plants.

Julietta Edgar, Head of Special Stamps, Royal Mail said: “The insect stamps are absolutely spectacular; most people jump a mile when you talk about insects! The latest set of 10 stamps really demonstrates how important and amazing each insect is and also how beautiful and delicate they really are.”