Troides hypolitus
Rippon’s birdwing is the largest species in the Troidini tribe and the earliest branch to evolve. It diverged around the mid Miocene (15.97-11.62 million years ago) and there are four subspecies. Wingspan of males is around 13 cm and of females is 18-20 cm. The base color of the wings is black. On the forewings, along both sides of the wing veins, are ash white stripes. On the hindwings are square black markings, surrounded by gold half moon-shaped patches. The adults are active in the early morning and at dusk visiting flowers. They fly slowly and prefer to glide. The larvae feed on birthworts (Aristolochia spp). Their distribution is in Wallacea (the Moluccas, Sulawesi). This butterfly is listed in Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
