Bogus Bugs

Pop Quiz:
What's wrong with these pictures?

Did you get it? Sirit na?

Answer:
None of these insects live in the Philippines.

These are all American insects.

Aaaaargh. Did they really think no one would notice??

I suppose I need to give some proof. Well I think I was able to identify them all. (Click on the links for external pages).

1. Green june beetle a.k.a. figeater beetle (Cotinis mutabilis). Found in the southwestern US & Mexico.
   
2. Convergent ladybird beetle (Hippodamia convergens). Lives in the Americas.
   
3. Eastern hercules beetle (Dynastes tityus). Lives in the US.
   
4. Harlequin cabbage bug a.k.a. harlequin bug (Murgantia histrionica). Southern US.
   
5. Ornate Checkered Beetle (here) is misidentified; probably the Red-blue checkered beetle (Trichodes nutalli). US & Canada.
   
6. Sharpshooter bug a.k.a. Broadheaded sharpshooter (Oncometopia orbona). USA.
   
7. Milkweed bug a.k.a. large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus). USA.
   
8. Spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata). US and A.
   

This is BULLSHIT man. For one of the Earth's unique Biodiversity Hotspots to issue stamps depicting some lame-ass "Common Insects of North America" is absurd, not to mention totally pathetic.

Ano ba yan Philippine Post! How could you?!?

It's not as if we can't make them well. Check out these stamps, from 1969:

click on picture to view larger size

Now that's beautiful.

See the fine lines. The composition. And admire the background! (I'm really big into backgrounds). Even the fonts look great.

These names of these swallowtail butterflies are as follows:

1. The Common Birdwing, I'm afraid, has been misdiagnosed. It appears to be a male Magellan Birdwing (Troides magellanus). They are found only in the Philippines and on Orchid Island, Taiwan.
   
2. Tailed Jay (Graphium agamemnon). These butterflies are common even in the cities, and the caterpillars are often found on the guyabano plant.
   
3. Red Helen (Papilio helenus hystaspes). This subspecies of the Red Helen is endemic to (found only in) the Philippines.
   
4. "The Birdwing" (Trogonoptera trojana). This butterfly is endemic to the island of Palawan.
   

For a glimpse of more living jewels from Pinas, see this great website.

(All scans are from Skap's Bug Stamps.)