Welfare: butterflies - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 2005 - 45 Euro Cent

The stamps of the series "For the Welfare" appear with supplements for the Federal Working Group of the Free Welfare. The knock-on proceeds will benefit this merger of charitable organizations. The brands show familiar domestic butterfly species this year. The popular insects are threatened by the alteration, repression and destruction of their habitats. Therefore, the protection of the remaining habitats should have the highest priority. The first "lemon butterflies" already fly on warm February days and are therefore considered as spring messengers. In late spring, the yellow males mate with the whitish-green females, which then start laying eggs. The caterpillars live on the undersides of the leaves of the buckthorn and the buckthorn. The caterpillars are well camouflaged by their dark green color. In May and June the moths of the next generation hatch. For a few weeks, they seek food from thistles and other flowers. Unlike many other species of butterflies, Brimstone butterflies hibernate outdoors without protection. Lemon butterflies are around one year old, making them the longest-lived butterflies.