Insect Stamp of Japan

The number of the insect stamps in a normal stamp is 13 from 75 yen Great Purple Butterfly of the 1956 issue to 30 yen Small Copper of the 1997 issue. Great Purple Butterfly has appeared twice and Small White Butterfly has appeared twice and Orange Oakleaf Butterfly has appeared twice.
The stamp which drew various animals and plants made in Japan as protection-of-nature series was issued from 1974 to 1978 every year. the 1st collection (1974) -- four kinds of mammals -- the 2nd collection (1975) -- four kinds of birds -- four kinds of insects were taken up by the 4th collection (1977), and three kinds of plants were taken up for five kinds of reptiles, amphibians, and fishes by the 5th collection (1978) at the 3rd collection (1976).
Together with issue of these commemorative stamps, the pigeon mark and the small mark were formed in the post office.
The 30th international apiarist meeting was held in Nagoya in October, 1985, and the stamp was issued in commemoration of this.
The stamp of insect series was issued from 1986 to 1987 from the 1st collection to the 5th collection. By the 5th collection, four kinds of insect stamps and one kind of small sheets were published each for four kinds from the 1st collection to the 4th collection. Although four kinds of butterfly stamps are combined with the small sheet of the 5th collection, two of kinds of it are the stamp of only a small sheet.
The stamp on which it drew rare wild animals and plants was issued every year from 2011 to 2013 year. Insect one kind in a collection of the first (2011), insect one kind in a collection of the third (2013) were taken away.

Japan Normal StampRyukyu Normal StampJapan Normal Stamp
1956.6.201959.8.101971.7.151980.10.1
Great Purple Butterfly
Sasakia charonda
(Nymphalidae)
Orange Oakleaf Butterfly
Kallima inachus
(Nymphalidae)
Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle
Allomyrina dichotomus
(Scarabaeidae)
Small White Butterfly
Pieris rapae
(Pieridae)

Normal Stamp
1994.1.131997.11.281994.4.251994.1.131997.11.281997.11.28
Skimmer
Orthetrum albistylum
(Libellulidae)
Flower Blue Chafer
Oxycwtonia jucunda
(Scarabaeidae)
Common Jay
Graphium doson
(Papilionidae)
Seven-spotted Ladybird
Coccinella septempunctata
(Coccinelidae)
Japanese Honeybee
Apis cerana
(Apidae)
Small Copper
Lycaena phlaeas
(Lycaenidae)


protection-of-nature series 4
1977.7.221977.5.181977.8.151977.9.14
Genji Firefly
Luciola cruciata
(Lampyridae)
Common Jay
Graphium doson
(Papilionidae)
Euterpnosia Cicada
Euterpnosia chibensis
(Cicadidae)
Darter Dragonfly
Boninthemis insularis
(Libellulidae)


1985.10.9 30th international apiarist meeting
Western Honeybee
Apis mellifera
(Apidae)


Insect Stamp
Series 1 1986.7.30
Eversmann's Parnassius
Parnassius eversmanni
(Papilionidae)
Blue Longhorn Beetle
Rosalia batesi
(Cerambycidae)
Shield-backed Bug
Poecilocoris lewisi
(Scutelleridae)
Ancient dragonfly
Epiophlebia superstes
(Epiophlebiidae)

Series 2 1986.9.26
Wonderful Green Hairstreak
Thermozephyrus ataxus
(Lycaenidae)
Giant Stag Beetle
Dorcus hopei
(Lucanidae)
Japanese carabid beetle
Damaster blaptoides
(Carabidae)
Darter Dragonfly
Sympetrum pedemontanum
(Libellulidae)

Series 3 986.11.21
White-tailed zygaenid moth
Elcysma westwoodii
(Uraniidae)
Variable Glider
Rhyothemis variegata
(Libellulidae)
Tibicen Cicada
Tibicen japonicus
(Cicadidae)
Jewel Beetle
Chrysochroa holstii
(Buprestidae)

Series 4 1987.1.23
Stag Beetle
Lucanus
maculifemoratus

(Lucanidae)
Great Dragonfly
Anotogaster sieboldii
(Cordulegasteridae)
Chestnut Tiger Butterfly
Parantica sita
(Danaidae)
Yanbaru Long-armed Scarab
Cheirotonus jambar
(Scarabaeidae)

Series 5 1987.3.12Series 5ifrom small sheet) 1987.3.12
Orange Oakleaf Butterfly
Kallima inachus
(Nymphalidae)
Demoiselle Damselfly
Calopteryx cornelia
(Calopterygidae)
Owlfly
Ascalaphus ramburi
(Ascalaphidae)
Garden Chafer
Polyphylla laticollis
(Scarabaeidae)
Orange Tip Butterfly
Anthocharis cardamines
(Pieridae)
Great Purple Butterfly
Sasakia charonda
(Nymphalidae)


2011.8.23 Endangered Wild Animal Stamp2013.5.23 Endangered Wild Animal Stamp 3rd Series
Large Shijimi Blue
Shijimiaeoides divina
(Lycaenidae)
Insular Endemic Stag Beetle
Neolucanus insulicola donan
(Lucanidae)


NEXT to Stamp to HomePage