POST Fiji Pte Limited officially launched the commemorative cicada stamp series yesterday.
The new stamps depict Fiji’s very own periodical cicada, the Raiateana knowlesi – locally known as the nanai.
Speaking during the launch, Post Fiji deputy board chair Radhika Karunaratne said they were launching a stamp that celebrated a unique treasure of our beautiful islands.
“The nanai is a creature of magic and mystery,” she said.
“In a world of over 3000 cicada species, it stands among an elite group of only nine that are periodical, emerging in a synchronised spectacle once every eight years.
“It is, in fact, the only periodical cicada in the entire Southern Hemisphere.”
Ms Karunaratne said in Fiji, the nanai had been recorded only in parts of Namosi, Nadroga-Navosa and Serua provinces of Viti Levu.
“This alone makes it a natural wonder of global significance, yet it is a wonder that lives right here, in the forests of Viti Levu.
“Many of us may recognise its likeness from our highest currency, our one-hundred dollar bill, a testament to its cultural importance.”
She said for generations, the emergence of the nanai has been more than just a biological event; it has been a cultural marker, a totem and a part of our natural heritage.
“Yet, many Fijians know very little about its fascinating life cycle – from the nymph spending eight years growing underground, to its dramatic emergence and transformation, beautifully depicted on the stamps we launch today.”
