Australia 2004 Nature of Australia - Rainforest Butterflies
- Issue Date: 4 May 2004
- Designed by: Wayne Rankin
- Printed by: SNP Sprint
- Print Process: Lithography
- Perforations: 14 x 14½, 14½ x 14 ($2)
- Dimensions: 30mm x 25mm, 50mm x 30mm ($2)
- Format: sheets of 50
Contents
Description
This is the final issue in the Nature of Australia definitive series. The series, which started in 1996, has depicted different Australian habitats using illustrations of specific environments that are representative of the habitat and images of the flora and fauna found within the habitat. The series has featured eucalyptus forest, wetlands, coastal and desert habitats. The fifth, and final habitat, rainforest as exemplified by the Wet Tropics in far north Queensland, was introduced with Nature of Australia: Rainforest. The butterflies on the stamps are all found in the Daintree region of the Wet Tropics.
Stamps
5c Red Lacewing
This large, colourful butterfly occurs from Cape York to Townsville. The adults – with their slow, gliding flight – are striking as they fly or settle, wings outspread, in open, sunny spots a few metres above the ground.
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10c Blue-banded Eggfly
This vivid blue butterfly occurs in and at the edges of the rainforest, particularly in lowland areas. The species is common north of Rockhampton and extending to Darwin. The male can often be found perched in sunlight, slowly opening and closing his wings.
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75c Cruiser
This butterfly occurs only in north-eastern Australia and is common in the Wet Tropics. It has a strong, gliding flight and feeds on lantana and other flowers. The stamp depicts the more colourful male cruiser with its predominantly orange upperside with black markings. The slightly larger and drabber female is brown.
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$2 Daintree Rainforest
At the heart of Queensland’s Wet Tropics is the Daintree National Park. Established in 1967, the park occupies 760 km² around the Daintree River Valley with a section extending to Cape Tribulation. The Daintree Valley is the largest tropical rainforest wilderness remaining in Australia. It is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna.
The $2.00 double definitive stamp features a Ulysses (Papilio ulysses) and a red lacewing (Cethosia cydippe) butterfl y against a background representative of the rainforest habitat found within Daintree National Park.
First Day Cover
The first day of issue postmark was Daintree QLD 4873.
Maximum Cards
