Dr David Lees
Curator, Microlepidoptera
Department: Life Sciences
Division: LS Insects Division
Specialisms: Microlepidoptera, Butterflies, Madagascar, Systematics, Invasive species
Summary
I am responsible for the traditional ‘Microlepidoptera’ at NHM (around 7000 drawers, 1 million specimens). My current curatorial focus is the Yponomeutoidea, a superfamily including economically important species such as the Ermine moths, whose museum arrangement needs modernisation, and the Gelechioidea. I am involved in both molecular and morphological works on Lepidoptera worldwide, with a long-term interest in their taxonomy, evolution, biogeography and faunistics, especially in Madagascar, and a research interest in primitive Lepidoptera, notably Micropterigidae.
Qualifications
Degrees
- PhD, University of London, United Kingdom
Postgraduate training
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2013 - 2015
- Lepidoptera Curator, Natural History Museum, United Kingdom, 2012 - 2013
- Researcher CDD, Institut National de Recherche Agronomique (INRA), France, 2010 - 2011
- Fellow, Le STUDIUM, France, 2009 - 2010
Highlighted publications
- Lees DC, Kawahara AY, Rougerie R, Ohshima I, Kawakita A, Bouteleux O, De Prins J, Lopez‐Vaamonde C (2014) DNA barcoding reveals a largely unknown fauna of Gracillariidae leaf‐mining moths in the Neotropics. Molecular Ecology Resources 14, 286 - 296. doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.12178
- Timmermans MJTN, Lees DC, Simonsen TJ (2014) Towards a mitogenomic phylogeny of Lepidoptera. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 79, 169 - 178. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.05.031
- Lees DC, Lack HW, Rougerie R, Hernandez-Lopez A, Raus T, Avtzis ND, Augustin S, Lopez-Vaamonde C (2011) Tracking origins of invasive herbivores through herbaria and archival DNA: the case of the horse‐chestnut leaf miner. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 9, 322 - 328. doi: 10.1890/100098
- Kremen C, Cameron A, Moilanen A, Phillips SJ, Thomas CD, Beentje H, Dransfield J, Fisher BL, Glaw F, Good TC, Harper GJ, Hijmans RJ, Lees DC, Louis E, Nussbaum RA, Raxworthy CJ, Razafimpahanana A, Schatz GE, Vences M, Vieites DR, Wright PC, Zjhra ML (2008) Aligning Conservation Priorities Across Taxa in Madagascar with High-Resolution Planning Tools. Science 320, 222 - 226. doi: 10.1126/science.1155193
Highlighted publications
- Lees DC, Kawahara AY, Rougerie R, Ohshima I, Kawakita A, Bouteleux O, De Prins J, Lopez‐Vaamonde C (2014) DNA barcoding reveals a largely unknown fauna of Gracillariidae leaf‐mining moths in the Neotropics. Molecular Ecology Resources 14, 286 - 296. doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.12178
- Timmermans MJTN, Lees DC, Simonsen TJ (2014) Towards a mitogenomic phylogeny of Lepidoptera. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 79, 169 - 178. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.05.031
- Lees DC, Lack HW, Rougerie R, Hernandez-Lopez A, Raus T, Avtzis ND, Augustin S, Lopez-Vaamonde C (2011) Tracking origins of invasive herbivores through herbaria and archival DNA: the case of the horse‐chestnut leaf miner. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 9, 322 - 328. doi: 10.1890/100098
- Kremen C, Cameron A, Moilanen A, Phillips SJ, Thomas CD, Beentje H, Dransfield J, Fisher BL, Glaw F, Good TC, Harper GJ, Hijmans RJ, Lees DC, Louis E, Nussbaum RA, Raxworthy CJ, Razafimpahanana A, Schatz GE, Vences M, Vieites DR, Wright PC, Zjhra ML (2008) Aligning Conservation Priorities Across Taxa in Madagascar with High-Resolution Planning Tools. Science 320, 222 - 226. doi: 10.1126/science.1155193