Beetles
South Africa, Nelspruit · 1987-03-06
Official first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
Click any photo to see it enlarged.
front
This cover is postmarked on 6 March 1987 in Nelspruit, with a special postmark depicting a dung beetle. It carries the South Africa beetles set, SAC 621 to 624, illustrating four species from the tiger beetle, fruit chafer, jewel beetle and longicorn families. The cachet's featured species, Goliathus albosignatus, is the largest South African fruit chafer at around 60mm, though the text notes only a small minority of the country's fruit chafer species actually feed on fruit, with most instead acting as pollinators or living as parasites in ants' nests. The set's text was supplied by Professor Erik Holm, who also designed the stamps.
Description of the Cachet
The cachet features a large black and white line drawing of a Goliathus albosignatus beetle, shown from above with its head and long curved horns facing upward and its legs splayed to either side. The illustration is detailed and anatomically precise, picking out the ridges and texture of the exoskeleton with fine hatching. Beneath it, the name "Goliathus albosignatus" appears in italic script. At the bottom of the cover the words "Beetles / Kewers" are printed in bold black text, next to a small diamond shaped PT emblem marked 4.20.
Information Card
BEETLES Beetles constitute more than one third of the animal kingdom. They live in every environment possible, in and on water, in the ground in the air, in deserts and ice caves and also in cultivated land, granaries and homes. More than 60 000 species of beetle occur in South Africa. Beetles undergo a complete metamorphosis during their life cycle. From the egg hatches the grubb-like larva, which changes in the pupa, from which the adult beetle emerges. They are characterised by a horned shield that covers the body like armour. 14c stamp CHAETODERA REGALIS The majority of the more than 100 species of tiger beetle found in South Africa lives on sandy soil such as river banks and beaches. Chaetodera regalis, found in the subtropical regions of Natal, is one of the most attractive species. The adult Chaetodera regalis is 15 mm in size. It is a deft and fast flyer and lives on insects caught in its large mandibles. The larva lives in a burrow in the sand. On its back it has a hook with anchors itself to the side of the tunnel. Its head and mandibles fit into the opening like a lid. Out of this ambush it pounces on passing insects. 20c stamp TRICHOSTETHA FASCICULARIS This beautiful wine-red fruit chafer belongs to a genus found only on the flowers of Protea species. Trichostetha fascicularis (20 mm) is found in the Transvaal on the common sugar-bush, Protea caffra. The largest South African fruit chafer is Goliathus albosignatus (60 mm), which is depicted on the commemorative cover. Only a small minority of the more than 100 South African species of fruit chafer is frugivorous. Most of them are pollinators, many live as parasites in ants' nests and some feed on the resin of trees and on leaves. The larva of the fruit chafer resembles a cutworm and lives in humus, compost and dung. It has the peculiar habit of crawling on its back without using its legs. 25c stamp JULODIS VIRIDIPES Brush beetles of the genus Julodis are endemic to Africa and the Near East, but those with colourful hairy brushes occur only at the southern tip of Africa. They belong to the jewel-beetle family, over 1 000 species of which occur in South Africa. They are approximately 30 mm in length, brightly coloured and irridescent. Julodis viridipes occurs in Namaqualand in the Cape Province. All jewel beetles fly by day. They are heat-loving and very resistant to high temperatures. Most larvae of the jewel-beetle family bore into dead wood but some of the smaller types bore into leaves and grass. Some Julodis larvae live in the ground and feed on the roots of the karroo-bush. 30c stamp CEROPLESIS MILITARIS The red-striped longicorn beetle of the genus Ceroplesis is common on acacia trees. It feeds on the bark of young twigs, often causing them to die back. Ceroplesis militaris is 25 mm in length and occurs mostly in the Orange Free State. Longicorn beetles have long antennae and the eyes are shaped like beans round the antennae bases. One or more sharp spines protrude from either side of the thorax. The mandibles of the majority of the species are directed downwards. Most of them are excellent night-flyers but some of the brightly coloured species such as Ceroplesis militaris fly by day. Text, with thanks: Prof. Erik Holm KEWERS Kewers maak meer as 'n derde van die dierery uit. Hulle leef in elke omgewing denkbaar, in en op water, in die grond en die lug, in woestyne en ysgrotte, en ook in landerye, graanskure en huise. In Suid-Afrika kom meer as 60 000 spesies voor. Kewers ondergaan 'n volledige metamorfose gedurende hulle lewensiklus. Uit die eier broei die wurmagtige larwe wat in die papie verander waaruit die volwasse kewer te voorskyn kom. Hulle word gekenmerk deur 'n harde dekskild wat die lyf soos 'n harnas bedek. 14c-seël CHAETODERA REGALIS Die meeste van die meer as 100 Suid-Afrikaanse tierkewerspesies word op sandgrond soos rivieroewers en strande aangetref. Chaetodera regalis, wat in die subtropiese dele van Natal voorkom, is een van die mooiste soorte. Die volwasse Chaetodera regalis is 15 mm lank. Hy is 'n vaardige en vinnige vlieër en leef van insekte wat hy met sy groot kake vang. Die larwe hou in 'n tonnel in die sand. Op sy rug het hy 'n haak waarmee hy hom aan die tonnelwand anker. Sy kop en kake pas in soos 'n deksel in die tonnelopening. Uit hierdie hinderlaag skiet hy vorentoe om verbygaande insekte te gryp. 20c-seël TRICHOSTETHA FASCICULARIS Die pragtige wynrooi vrugtetorlarwe behoort tot 'n genus wat net op die blomme van Protea-spesies voorkom. Trichostetha fascicularis (20 mm) kom in Transvaal voor op die gewone suikerbos, Protea caffra. Die grootste Suid-Afrikaanse vrugtetor is Goliathus albosignatus (60 mm), wat op die gedenkkoevert afgebeeld word. Net 'n klein aantal van die meer as 100 Suid-Afrikaanse vrugtetorspesies is vrugtevretend. Die meeste is blombestuiwers, baie leef as parasiete in mierneste en sommige leef van boomhars of blare. Die vrugtetorlarwe lyk soos 'n miswurm en leef in humus, kompos en mis. Hy het die eienaardige gewoonte om op sy rug rond te kruip sonder om sy pote te gebruik. 25c-seël JULODIS VIRIDIPES Borsteltorre van die genus Julodis is endemies in Afrika en die Nabye Ooste maar dié met kleurryke haarborsels kom net aan die suidpunt van Afrika voor. Hulle behoort tot die pragkewerfamilie, waarvan meer as 1 000 spesies in Suid-Afrika aangetref word. Hulle is ongeveer 30 mm lank, helderkleurig en skitterblink. Julodis viridipes kom in Namakwaland voor. Alle pragkewers vlieg bedags. Hulle is hitteliewend en besonder bestand teen hoë temperature. Die meeste pragkewerlarwes boor in dooie hout maar sommige klein soorte boor in blare of gras. Party Julodis-larwes leef in die grond en vreet aan die wortels van die karoobossie. 30c-seël CEROPLESIS MILITARIS Die rooigestreepte boktorre van die genus Ceroplesis is algemeen op akasiabome. Hulle vreet die bas van jong lote en gevolglik sterf die takkies dikwels af. Ceroplesis militaris is 25 mm lank en kom veral in die Oranje-Vrystaat voor. Boktorre het lang voelhorings en die oë is boontjievormig om die basisse van die voelers gerond. Aan weerskante van die bors is een of meer skerp stekels. Die meeste boktorre se kake is na onder gerig. Hulle is feitlik almal uitstekende nagvlieërs maar sommige helderkleuriges, soos Ceroplesis militaris, is dagvlieërs. Teks, met dank: Prof. Erik Holm
Theme: Wildlife
Condition: AverageNoticeable wear or light damage, such as creases, minor soiling, small tears, or light discolouration, but still collectable.
Addressed: No
Signed: No
Stamp denomination: R0.89 (ZAR)
SG reference: 612-615
SAPO serial number: 4.20
Estimated value: ~US$0.06
This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.
This first day cover (FDC) is part of Southern Covers, a private collection of 248 first day covers documenting the postal history and philately of South Africa and the homeland states. New to first day cover collecting? Read the guide to learn about cachets, postmarks, and stamp collecting terms, or browse the whole collection of Southern African FDCs.
