Native Irish Bees - Strip of 4 National Stamps

Bees are essential pollinating species. For 2024, An Post has commissioned a series of beautiful honeycomb-shaped stamps celebrating four native bees. This special set issues on 16th May to highlight World Bee Day on 20th May. The miniature sheet and First Day Cover miniature sheet are sure to create extra buzz around this stamp issue!

The pretty Moss Carder Bee, depicted on a red clover, is blonde in
colour. It generally inhabits flowerrich coastal dunes and
grasslands, bogs, and parkland, gathering moss to line its
underground nest. As its habitats are shrinking, numbers are
declining precipitously.

The Irish Honey Bee has been central to bee-keeping for at least
2000 years. It has distinctive dark colouration, darkly-pigmented
wings, and abundant thoracic hair. It is shown with a nectar-rich
blackberry flower.

The Patchwork Leafcutter Bee uses leaf pieces to create a
thimble-like structure inside the nest. The female fills this with
nectar and pollen, wherein she lays a single egg. 

The Wool Carder Bee, with distinctive yellow markings, was
first sighted in Ireland in 2015. The female uses fibrous
leaf-hairs to line her nest, while the males are fiercely
territorial.

Along with the four bees featured on stamps the beautiful
bee in the corner of the First Day Cover is the Tawny Mining
Bee, one of Ireland’s most endearing solitary bees. A
gorgeous miniature sheet features the Great Yellow
Bumblebee, one of our most endangered bees and a
special philatelic treat comes in the form of a First Day
Cover miniature sheet, featuring the Red-tailed Bumblebee.

*The image displayed is for illustrative purposes only.

Product code 2408ST