Tailed Emperor, in flight showing upper surface of wings.
Photo: Euan Moore
Tailed Emperor, showing under surface of wings.
Photo: Euan Moore
Scientific Name: Charaxes sempronius subsp. sempronius
Other Common Names: Four-tail.
Family of Butterflies: Nymphalidae (Browns and Nymphs).
Wingspan: 75mm male, 85mm female.
Local observations: There is a 2012 record from near the summit of Mt Alexander. Around the same time Tony Morton recorded this species in or near Kalimna Park and at Vaughan. There are no other records for the region on either iNaturalist or Atlas of Living Australia for this species prior to 2022. During the 2022/23 summer there were reported sightings from Castlemaine (Kalimna Park), Newstead, Mt Alexander and Drummond. There have been sightings every year since 2022. iNaturalist
| Tony Morton’s records of Tailed Emperor from the local area (between 2000 to 2013) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Location | Notes |
| 20-Apr-2012 | Kalimna Point | on sap oozing from Small Sugar Gum |
| 13-Apr-2012 | Kalimna Point | on sap oozing from Small Sugar Gum |
| 27-Mar-2012 | Kalimna Point | on sap oozing from Small Sugar Gum |
| 9-Mar-2012 | 63 Hunter St, C’maine | female investigating A. dealbata |
| 7-Mar-2012 | Vaughan garden | 1 seen round A. mearnsii |
Distribution outside our region: There are scattered observations from across Victoria, though few in south-east or south-west. This species ranges across the north of Australia and down the eastern sea board. It also occurs in Indonesia. Ref: iNaturalist, Atlas of Living Australia.
Larval Host Plants: Legumes (Mimosaceae and Casealpiniaceae), particularly wattles.
Adult Flight Times in Victoria: Adults have been recorded from November to May, and most commonly
from February to April. Little is known of their breeding habits in Victoria.
Conservation Status:
- The Action plan for Australian Butterflies: No Conservation Significance
- Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 – Threatened List: Not Listed
Other Notes: Probably only occasional visitors to the Mount Alexander Shire although it has been observed more frequently in recent years. Most specimens recorded from Victoria are adults migrating/wandering down from more northerly breeding areas. It has been regularly recorded in Victoria since 1974, but no permanent population appears to have established in the state.
It is known to hilltop. This species is a strong flier, and will perch on tree trunks several meters above the
ground.
Adults are often attracted to rotting fruit and sap from trees.
At Kalimna Park in January 2023 several individuals along with other species were observed feeding on sap from Sugar Gums, Eucalyptus cladocalyx, that was seeping from damage to the bark caused by Krefft’s glider. In the photo on the right the Tailed Emperor has been joined by five Common Brown butterflies and several blow flies. The white mass is hardened gum from the tree.
Photo: Euan Moore
References and further reading:
Atlas of Living Australia – Charaxes sempronius, Tailed Emperor
iNaturalist – Charaxes sempronius, Tailed Emperor.
Braby, Michael F., Second edition 2016. The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing.
Field, Ross P., 2013. Butterflies: Identification and Life History. Museum Victoria.