The
Stamp
The stamps come from 2 designs Pond
Lifes Issue, the 2001 Europa Concept.
POND LIFE
Water is the source of life. It not
only supports life hidden within it, but it also attracts many others towards
it. Whether it is a large expanse of water, for example the sea, or a river
or a lake, or whether it is just a rock pool, one is sure to find natural
treasures associated with the water. Despite the fact that the Maltese
islands are small, and there are no rivers or lakes, the numerous rock
pools or running water also offer adequate habitat for species which are
adapted to such conditions. Two of the most common and popular species
found in the Maltese islands are the frog and the dragonfly.
Dragonflies can be found in the vicinity
of fresh water, be it a pond, a cistern, or just a pool. They are colourful
insects, and spend much of their time on the wing either hunting smaller
insects in flight, or else courting. They lay their eggs in the water and
the first few days of the nymph which hatches from the egg are also spent
in the water until the time comes for it to climb out of this element and
change into a mature adult dragonfly. Eleven different species of dragonflies
are recorded in the Maltese islands. Some are very common, others are not
so common, and there are also two migratory species. One of the most common
dragonflies is the Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii Mazzarell
Ahmar), with a long slender red abdomen reaching up to 40mm. The Red-veined
Darter can also be met with some distance away from water sources.
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