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In May 1998 the UK Government
aid agency, the Department for International Development, funded an
apiculture programme for Pitcairn which included training for
Pitcairn's bee keepers and a detailed analysis of Pitcairn bees and
honey with particular regard to the presence or not of
disease. Pitcairn, it was discovered, has one of the best
examples of disease-free bee populations anywhere in the world and the
honey produced was and remains exceptionally high in quality.
Pitcairn bees were also found to be a particularly placid variety and,
within a short time, the keepers were able to work with them wearing
minimal protection. As a result, Pitcairn began exporting
honey products internationally.
Pitcairn’s
bees are the Italian honey bees, Apis
mellifera ligustica which are the most widely distributed
of all honey bees, and have proved adaptable to most climates from
subtropical to cool temperate. While proven to be less satisfactory in
humid tropical regions, the bees of the Pitcairn Islands are an
exception and their establishment has been extremely successful.
A.ligustica was introduced in 1978 and again in 1992, with the present
population descended from both of these groups of bees. The bees
exhibit brown and yellow bands on the abdomen and their body size is
smaller and their overhairs shorter than those of the darker honeybee
races. 
While A ligustica are
susceptible to most diseases, such as parasitic varroa mite, the
isolation that Pitcairn affords the bees is highly beneficial to the
success of the breeding and honey programmes. The bees are prolific
breeders and are excellent “housekeepers”, building quality combs. They
are also good foragers and show lower swarming tendencies than other
bee races. 
This variety was chosen for Pitcairn as the continuous
nectar flow and favourable summer weather provide excellent conditions
for the population to flourish. The bees are also gentle, which is a
bonus for the hives and handlers alike. Apiarist James Driscoll from
Hamilton, New Zealand, began beekeeping lessons in Adamstown in
mid-2007. James’s overall goal is to increase honey production by 100%.
He continues to assist the Pitcairn Islands and intends to achieve this
goal, in partnership with local beekeepers, by education; hive
management; colony manipulation and the raising of new queen
bees. His focus is on the dynamics of building up a colony
for honey production. He is also concentrating on the quality of the
bees, and especially the queen bees, which could lead to fulfilling a
future potential for export.
$1.00
- Yellow Guava Psidium
guajava This is a similar flower to Syzygium jambos,
as seen in our previous Definitive issue. The P. guajava like Syzgium is highly
desired by the bee population on the Island, with the Yellow Guava also
having value as a food crop. 
$1.20 –
Portulaca Portulaca
oleracea This small ground cover succulent grows
abundantly near the food gardens and its mass of little flowers is
covered in bees most of the time. 
$1.50
Sunflowers These have been introduced to Pitcairn and several different
varieties are grown especially to attract bees. The flowers make a
dramatic sight when in bloom.
zones of Pitcairn are often cloud
covered and host this tree. Known as Laata on the Island, this is a
native to Pitcairn and is easily recognised by its abundance of lush,
red flowers. | $1.00, $1.20, $1.50, $3.00 | Single Set | $6.70 |
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| Miniature Sheet | $4.50 | ||
| First Day Cover | $7.70 | ||
| Miniature Sheet FDC | $5.50 |
| Designer: |
Sue Wickison, Wellington, New Zealand | Pitcairn
Stamps proudly brought to you by:  |
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| Printer: | Wyatt and Wilson, Christchurch, New Zealand |
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| Process: | Offset Litho | ||
| Stamp Size: | 42.27mm x 30.23mm | ||
| Mini Sheet size: | 120mm x 90mm | ||
| Format: | Setenant strips of 4 vertical stamps with centre tab | ||
| Perforation Gauge: | 13.2 x 13.2 |
||
| Sheet Configuration: | 2 x panes of 25 stamps | ||
| Denominations: | $1.00, $1.20, $1.50 and $3.00 | ||
| Paper: | 104gsm Chancellor Litho gummed stamp paper |
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| Period
of
Sale: |
25 June 2008 for a
period of 2 years. |