Emperor tale

A Wedge-tail eagle gliding across the front of our house had me getting the camera but as usual by the time I had the camera the eagle had gone over the ridge. However I then noticed a butterfly fluttering around a shrub in the garden, it then became the subject. I recognised it as a Tailed Emperor Polyura pyrrhus semipronius, one of the most striking butterflies that visits our area.

It was very busy depositing eggs under the leaves of a Cootamundra Wattle one of the Acacias that are a favoured food plant for the lava. Their range is throughout northern Australia, NSW and at times into Victoria and SA.
Later in the afternoon I sighted one sunning and managed to get a photo with the wings partially open.

Tailed Emperor, missing tails

It seems to have been a tough time for butterflies as I have seen many worse for wear and today a Tailed Emperor Polyura pyrrhus sepronius was a prime example. Missing the distinctive tails as well as a large part of one rear wing and generally looking tattered it took a break in the sun with wings spread so no chance for a photo of the underside of the wings, so following is an earlier photo of one that was in much better condition.