Postal stamps from the Guineas: learning from bees

We could have titled this article » Place on the world map all nations called Guinea » or » why there are so many countries with a similar name and their beekeeping » . We found 4 countries that include the word Guinea in their description, and it is now necessary to incorporate some last name not to be confused .

– Papua New Guinea or PNG . It is the eastern half of a large island at the north of Australia . The word Guinea is due to the similarity found by a Spanish navigator to the inhabitants of the island with those in the african gulf of Guinea. Wild colonies of Apis cerana arrived to the island. They are not the only bees, we read that honey bees , Apis mellifera, were introduced to the island in the 40s of XX century. Neighboring countries such as New Zealand and Australia have supported the development of the island beekeeping through training programs or beekeeping equipment supply , and the last push was given by the local government with finantial measures. 5000 hives and 100 tons of annual honey production are the figures in Papua New Guinea. Due to its recent founding as a nation in 1975 , there´s a lack of issue stamps dedicated to bees .

– Republic of Guinea , Guinea Conakry or Old French Guinea. West African country with a high percentage of Muslim population. Honey is incorporated in the preparation of meals and drinks during the month of Ramadan , as well as in traditions associated with weddings. Training programs for local beekeepers have increased the yield per hive.

Several stamps dedicated to the species Apis mellifera , its subspecies Apis mellifera scutellata and Apis mellifera capensis , who live in the area and moths Fabriciana Niobe and Acherontia atropos. Bees also shares stamps with butterfly Polyommatus icarus and with plant and flower Polystachya pubescens.

Republic of Guinea. Beekeeping postal stamps

In these stamps issues, also a tribute from the Republic of Guinea to the relationship orchids-bees. Acampe pachyglossa is a native orchid Africa , emitting a sweet fragrance during the day, The other stamp is dedicated to African ansellia , another orchid that can be found in this country and is pollinated by african bee . As if that were not enough , several stamps dedicated to the bees in the world, probably issued for insect-collectors.

Bee stamps from Guinea-Conakri

Republic of Guinea. Postal stamps with bees

– Republic of Guinea Bissau , a former Portuguese colony in Africa , with a population of 1.6 million. The Fula and Mandingo ethnic groups have been known as » hunter bees » for generations, passing down beekeping knownledge from father to son. Traditional hives, made of wicker and hanged in the trees, were destroyed each year to collect honey and wax. Lack of access in many rural areas to water and electricity has not favored the correct operation of extracting honey. Promoting the use of Kenyan hive, creating small bee businesses, training in beekeeping management and improving food hygiene of local beekeepers are expected to boost this activity.

Despite gaining independence in 1974 , in what concerns the issue of bee stamps, we can say that has not been idle. In some stamps the shows us Apis mellifera and their hexagonal cells , not forgetting pests that threaten bees, like the beetle Aethina tumida,offering a description of this beetle and comparing its size with bee. One good example of beekeeping training through postage.

Bees in postal stamps Guinea Bissau

More training in the following issues: a beekeeper gathering honey , an example of worker bees , queen and drone, a beehive in a tree trunk. To complete this, stamps of other bees and bumblebees.

Learning from beekeeping with postal stamps from Guinea Bissau.Postal stamps from the Guineas: learning from bees

One of pollinators, a representation of a swarm on a branch on a tree and different images of beei n flowers complete this abundant representation.

Bees pictures in postal stamps from Guinea Bissau

– Equatorial Guinea . Former spanish colony. We have not found information on beekeeping in this country, and only a humble stamp dedicated to «unknown» bumblebee. We will continue working to complete the information in this country.