education and training
- B.A., University of Kansas
- Ph.D., Cornell University
Davis, Don
Staff of National Museum of Natural History
Systematics and phylogeny of the basal families of Lepidoptera including the superfamilies Tineoidea and Gracillarioidea; biology of leaf-mining and cave-dwelling moths.
Background And Education
Publications
selected publications
-
article
- Adenogasteria leguminivora Davis & Vargas gen. et sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae): a new seed-feeding micromoth associated with Fabaceae in Peru and Chile. Austral Entomology. 59:37-51. 2020
- American Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera) from the Collection of the National Museum of Natural History, Washington Dc. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 122:482-505. 2020
- New Species and Records of Moths from African Caves (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 122:577-594. 2020
- Wrong side of the leaf: assigning some Lithocolletinae species (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) to their proper genera. Zootaxa. 4751:201-237. 2020
- Anarsioses, a new generic name for Phyllonorycter aberrans (Braun) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Zootaxa. 4701:574-580. 2019
- An illustrated catalogue of the Neotropical Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) with new data on primary types. Zootaxa. 4575:1-110. 2019
- A New Species of Niditinea (Tineidae: Tineinae) with a Preference for Bird Nests, and the Known Larval Habitats of the Species in the United States. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 120:153-166. 2018
- Two new species of Prototheora Meyrick from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania representing the northernmost records for the genus (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae). Revue suisse de Zoologie. 125:129-135. 2018
- A new species of Macrosaccus (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae: Lithocolletinae) from Arizona, USA. Zootaxa. 4358:385-392. 2017
- A new species of Marmara (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae: Marmarinae), with an Annotated List of Known Hostplants for the Genus. Zootaxa. 4337:198-222. 2017
- Description of immature stages of Nemophora bellela (Walker, 1863) (Lepidoptera: Adelidae). Entomologica Fennica. 28:49-56. 2017
- First Report of the Genus Telamoptilia from the Western Hemisphere with Descriptions of Two New Species (Gracillariidae). Journal of the Lepidopterists Society. 71:261-273. 2017
- Phylogeny and Evolution of Lepidoptera. Annual Review of Entomology. 62:265-283. 2017
- Two Records of Phereoeca praecox (Tineidae) in South Carolina and Observations on its Biology. Journal of the Lepidopterists Society. 71:192-195. 2017
- Antillonatus, a new replacement name for the generic homonym Antillopsyche Núñez & Davis, 2016 (Lepidoptera: Tineoidea: Psychidae). Zootaxa. 4079:595. 2016
-
Antillopsyche sessilis, new genus and species, a new Psychidae
(Lepidoptera: Tineoidea) from Cuba with an unusual larval feeding behavior. Zootaxa. 4066:52-62. 2016 - A New Leafmining Moth (Cameraria cotinivora , Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) of the American Smoketree (Cotinus obovatus). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 118:244-253. 2016
- A molecular phylogeny and revised higher-level classification for the leaf-mining moth family Gracillariidae and its implications for larval host-use evolution. Systematic Entomology. 42:60-81. 2016
- Phylotranscriptomics resolves ancient divergences in the Lepidoptera: Ancient divergences in Lepidoptera. Systematic Entomology. 1-12. 2016
- Revised classification and catalogue of global Nepticulidae and Opostegidae (Lepidoptera, Nepticuloidea). ZooKeys. 628:65-246. 2016
- The first record of Baccharis L. (Asteraceae) as a host-plant genus for Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera), with description of new Stigmella species from South America. Zootaxa. 4136:101-128. 2016
- A molecular phylogeny and revised classification for the oldest ditrysian moth lineages (Lepidoptera: Tineoidea), with implications for ancestral feeding habits of the mega-diverse Ditrysia. Systematic Entomology. 40:409-432. 2015
- A molecular phylogeny for the oldest (nonditrysian) lineages of extant Lepidoptera, with implications for classification, comparative morphology and life-history evolution. Systematic Entomology. 40:671-704. 2015
- Revision of the genus Philonome Chambers and its proposed reassignment to the family Tineidae (Lepidoptera, Tineoidea). ZooKeys. :69-106. 2015
- The fossil record and taphonomy of butterflies and moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera): implications for evolutionary diversity and divergence-time estimates. BMC Evolutionary Biology. 15. 2015
- New and little known Coptotriche and Tischeria species (Lepidoptera: Tischeriidae) from Primorskiy Kray, East Asia. Zootaxa,. Zootaxa. 3884:141-155. 2014
- Ten new species from the Patagonian Andes (Argentina and Chile), mostly belonging to a newly designated Stigmella purpurimaculae group (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae). Zootaxa. 3887:321-353. 2014
- A Large-Scale, Higher-Level, Molecular Phylogenetic Study of the Insect Order Lepidoptera (Moths and Butterflies). Plos One. 8:1-23. 2013
- A Molecular Phylogeny for Yponomeutoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Ditrysia) and Its Implications for Classification, Biogeography and the Evolution of Host Plant Use. Plos One. 8:e55066. 2013
- New Fossil Lepidoptera (Insecta: Amphiesmenoptera) from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Northeastern China. Plos One. 8:1-33. 2013
- Redescription of Dicranoses capsulifex Kieffer & Jörgensen (Lepidoptera: Cecidosidae) with description of the immature stages and biology. Zootaxa. 3682:371-384. 2013
- Systematics and Biology of Caloptilia Triadicae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), a New Species of Leaf-Mining Moth of the Invasive Chinese Tallow Tree (Triadica Sebifera (L.) Euphorbiaceae). Journal of the Lepidopterists Society. 67:281-290. 2013
- Systematics and biology of Cremastobombycia chromolaenae, new species (Gracillariidae), a natural enemy of Chromolaena odorata (L.) King and H. Robinson (Asteraceae). Journal of the Lepidopterists Society. 67:35-41. 2013
- Systematics, phylogeny and biology of a new genus of Lithocolletinae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) associated with Cistaceae. Zootaxa. 3741:201-227. 2013
- The genus Erechthias Meyrick of Ascension Island, including discovery of a new brachypterous species (Lepidoptera, Tineidae). ZooKeys. 341:1-20. 2013
- A review of the North American genus Epimartyria (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae) with a discussion of the larval plastron. ZooKeys. 183:37-83. 2012
- An annotated catalog of fossil and subfossil Lepidoptera (Insecta: Holometabola) of the world. Zootaxa. 1-132. 2012
- Neotropical Tineidae Ix: a Review of the West Indian Xystrologa and Biology of Xystrologa Grenadella (Wlsm.), an Invasive Pest of Cultivated Greenhouse Plants in Southern Florida, Usa and Germany (Lepidoptera: Tineoidea). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 114:439-455. 2012
- Revalidation of Oliera Brèthes (Lepidoptera: Cecidosidae) based on a redescription of O. argentinana and DNA analysis of Neotropical cecidosids. Zootaxa. 1-19. 2012
- Using internet images to gather distributional data for a newly discovered Caloptilia species (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) specializing on Chinese tallow in North America. American Entomologist. 58:32-35. 2012
- [Book review:] Basic Pattern of Lepidoptera Diversity in Southwestern Africa by Wolfram Mey. Journal of the Lepidopterists Society. 66:183. 2012
- Biology and Systematics of the Leafmining Gracillariidae of Brazilian Pepper Tree, Schinus Terebinthifolius Raddi, with Descriptions of a New Genus and Four New Species). Journal of the Lepidopterists Society. 65:61-93. 2011
- Biology and systematics of the New World Phyllocnistis Zeller leafminers of the avocado genus Persea (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae). ZooKeys. 97:39-73. 2011
- Can Deliberately Incomplete Gene Sample Augmentation Improve a Phylogeny Estimate for the Advanced Moths and Butterflies (Hexapoda: Lepidoptera)?. Systematic Biology. 60:782-796. 2011
- Increased gene sampling strengthens support for higher-level groups within leaf-mining moths and relatives (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). BMC Evolutionary Biology. 11:182. 2011
- Order Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758. In : Zhang, Z.Q. (Ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness. Zootaxa. 3148:212-221. 2011
- Systematics and biology of the new genus Macrosaccus with descriptions of two new species (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae). ZooKeys. 98:29-82. 2011
- Biology, Distribution, and Diversity of Tineid Moths by Gaden Robinson. Journal of the Lepidopterists Society. 64:32-53. 2009
- Evolution of cave living in Hawaiian Schrankia (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with description of a remarkable new cave species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 156:114-139. 2009
- First report of the old world genus Pelecystola in North America, with description of a new species (Lepidoptera, Tineidae). ZooKeys. 69-78. 2009
- Neotropical Tineidae VIII: Falsivalva, a New Genus from Austral South America with Extreme Modification of the Male Postabdominal Terga (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 111:378-392. 2009
- On the asteroid belt's orbital and size distribution. Icarus. 202:104-118. 2009
- Systematics, host plants, and life histories of three new Phyllocnistis species from the central highlands of Costa Rica (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae, Phyllocnistinae). ZooKeys. 7-30. 2009
- Toward reconstructing the evolution of advanced moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera: Ditrysia): an initial molecular study. BMC Evolutionary Biology. 9:280. 2009
- Biology of a new Panamanian Bagworm Moth (Lepidoptera:Psychidae) with predatory larvae, and eggs individually wrapped in setal cases. Annals of Entomological Society of America. 101:689-702. 2008
- The Lepidoptera of the Brandberg Massif in Nambia, Part 2. Lepidoptera Africana 4, ed. Wolfram Mey. Journal of the Lepidopterists Society. 62:57-57. 2008
- A revision of the new world plant-mining moths of the family Opostegidae (Lepidoptera:Nepticuloidea). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-212. 2007
- Neotropical tineidae, V: A new genus and species of Tineidae associated with social hymenoptera and re-examination of two poorly known genera with similar biology (Lepidoptera : Tineidae, Lyonetiidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 109:741-764. 2007
- A monograph of the family Arrhenophanidea( Lepidoptera: Tineoidea). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-80. 2003
- Biology and Systematics of the North Phyllonorycter Leafminers on Salicaceae, with a Synoptical Catalogue of the Palearctic Species Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-89. 2001
- A World Classification of the Harmacloninae, a New Subfamily of Tineidae (Lepidoptera: Tineoidea). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-81. 1998
- A New Family of Monotrysian Moths from Austral South America (Lepidoptera: Palaephatidae), with a Phylogenetic Review of the Monotrysia. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-202.
- A New Leafmining Moth (Cameraria cotinivora, Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) of the American Smoketree (Cotinus obovatus). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 118:244-253.
- A Review of Ochsenheimeriidae and the Introduction of the Cereal Stem Moth, Ochsenheimeria vacculella into the United States (Lepidoptera: Tineodea). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-20.
- A Review of the West Indian Moths of the family Psychidae with descriptions of New Taxa and Immature Stages. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-66.
- A Revision of the North American Moths of the Superfamily Eriocranioidea with the proposal of a New Family, Acanthopteroctetidae (Lepidoptera). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-131.
- Biology and Systematics of Greya Busck and Tetragma, New Genus (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-99.
- Generic Revision of the Opostegidae, with a Synoptic Catalog of the World's Species (Lepidoptera: Nepticuloidea). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-97.
- Systematics and Zoogeography of the Family Neopseustidae with a proposal of a New Superfamily (Lepidoptera: Neopseustoidea). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-44.
- The Leaf Mining Moths of the Genus Cameraria Associated with Fagaceae in California (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-58.
- The North American Moths of the General Phaeoses, Opogona, and Oinophila, with a Discussion of their Supergeneric Affinities (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-39.
-
chapter
- Bionomics of Bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae). 209-226. 2009
- Evolutionary Framework for Lepidoptera Model Systems. 1-24. 2009
-
peer-reviewed article
Affiliation
member of
Other
Location
- National Museum of Natural History Academic Department
