These "top-up" stamps, issued in 2010, feature the large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus).

Good to know

Pane of 50 "top-up" stamps worth 7¢ each
Use as a "top-up" to transform denominated stamps into current-rate U.S., International and Oversize postage
Perfect for children as an introduction to stamp collecting

About Beneficial Insects low value definitives

This collection of low value definitives issued in 2010 features five of Canada's beneficial insects: the paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus), the assassin bug (Zelus luridus), the large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus), the margined leatherwing (Chauliognathus marginatus) and the dogbane beetle (Chrysochus auratus).

About the large milkweed bug

They skitter, scamper, and sometimes sting; we call them bugs for our own reasons. But, as any veteran gardener will tell you, one person's pest is another person's helper. The large milkweed bug is a wonder to watch at work in the garden, where it assists wildflower gardeners and farmers by feeding on the juice from milkweed seeds.

About the design

Designed and illustrated by Keith Martin, these playful stamps feature the large milkweed bug atop a soft purple flower. Set against a leafy green, garden-inspired background, the bug's vibrant yellow colour and stark graphic shell become the focal point. The insect is illuminated with a flat light, creating a parallel between the flower's abstract triangular forms and the shapes of the bug's markings. The milkweed bug's Latin name, Oncopeltus fasciatus, is printed in white italic letters in the top right corner. Dark edges fade into a unified border, framing the illustration and allowing the 50 stamps to blend into one another on the pane.

Product # 420007107

Beneficial Insects: Low value definitive stamps (7¢) - pane of 50