Ripponia

[1] Subgenus Ripponia Haugum & Low, 1975⁴⁾

Only one species belongs to this subgenus.

1) T. (R.) hypolitus (Cramer, 1775) (4 subspecies, 1 local form)

A group occurs exclusively in the Sulawesi-Maluku (=Molucca) Province between Oriental and Australian Regions. It has a peculiar morphology, resembling true Troides in appearance, and in addition sharing some parts with genus Trogonoptera.

Special features of subgenus Ripponia are as follow:

1. Peculiar FW shape with slightly pointed apex.
2. FW surface is black with a dark-greenish gloss. Semi-translucent vein-stripes are formed due to the coarsening of the scales along the wing veins.
3. Both sexes lack a semi-translucent golden（♂）or yellow spot（♀）in the central area of HW, which is predominantly located on the submarginal region. In ♂, the other of it is blackish gray on upper side, and gray on underside, distinctive spotted pattern.
4. HW venation of ♂ is unique, with a big cell in which a pseudo-nervure is present. V^7th and V^8th are shorter, V^7th arises in acute angle. V^3rd and V^4th fan outwards each other, making space 3 more wide.
5. Reddish hair tufts are absent from neck and thorax.
6. Abdomen of ♂ is unique – on its dorsal side, abdominal segments 3, 4, 6 and 7 are orange or reddish orange (yellow or whitish, rarely).