These "top-up" stamps, issued in 2010, feature the margined leatherwing (Chauliognathus marginatus).

Good to know

Pane of 50 "top-up" stamps worth 8¢ 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 margined leatherwing

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, and the margined leatherwing larvae are prized for consuming various harmful insects.

About the design

Designed and illustrated by Keith Martin, these playful stamps feature the margined leatherwing. The golden-yellow insect, with its slender, elongated body and pronounced black markings, sits atop a petal-like background of soft blues and subtle purples, which provide a vivid contrast to the bug's warm tones. The margined leatherwing's Latin name, Chauliognathus marginatus, 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 # 420008107

Beneficial Insects: Low value definitive stamps (8¢) - pane of 50