Publications.

  1. Evangelista, D.A., Sanchez-Herrera, M., Schwartz, J., Ware, J.L., Hughes, B., Esposito, L., Banda, R., Montana, K.O. Bondoc Mafla, S.T., Goodman, A., Kohli, M.K. (2025). Evaluating perceptions of STEM majors to explain diversity gaps in entomology and other sciences, Annals of the Entomological Society of America, saaf035, https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saaf035

  2. Stiner, E.O., Canseco Vielma, D., Dyson M., Esposito, L.A., Gaved, M., Taylor, J.A., Bastida Segobiano, V., Villavicencio, B., Herodotou, C. (2025). Developing scientific equity for biodiversity research: a thematic analysis of ecological change impacts on ranchers in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 40:e19. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170525100100

  3. Montana, K.O., Gorneau, J.A., Gosnell, J.S., Crews, S.C., Xavier, C., Marta, K.S., Pantoja, P., Hannappel, M.P., Stiner, E.O., Jones, M.M., Mottershead, G., Cala-Riquelme, F., Esposito, L.A. (2025). If history is written by the victors, who describes the spiders? Species author trends reflect gender and geopolitical disparities in biodiversity science. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 146(1), blaf067. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blaf067

  4. Awad, J., Brar, G., Cadwalader, E., Dillard, E., Esposito, L.A., Evans, E., Grozinger, C., Fisher, K.E., Kawahara, A.Y., Krupke, C.H., Lucky, A., Mankin, R., Moreau, C.S., Owens, A.C.S., Sandall, E.L., Seltmann, K.C., Ware, J.L., Winton, R. (2025). Defining the decline: a glossary relevant to insect decline. Journal of Insect Science, 25(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieaf048

  5. Montana, K.O., Cala Riquelme, F., Crews, S.C., Gorneau, J.A., Al Jamal, A.M., Aléquin, L., Spagna, J.C., Ballarin, F., Esposito, L.A. (2025). Tailor’s drawer no more: a reappraisal of the spider family Dictynidae O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871 sensu lato. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 204 (2), zlaf007. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf007

  6. Holmquist, A., Tavris, H., Kim, G., Esposito, L., Fisher, B., Lam, A. (2025). Towards large-scale museomics projects: a cost-effective and high-throughput extraction method for obtaining historical DNA from museum insect specimens. Molecular Ecology Resources, e14117. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.14117

  7. Yuan, M., Merjenburgh, J., van Wagensveld, T.P., Esposito, L.A., Bell, R.C., Myers, E.A. (2025). Demographic expansion and panmixia in a St. Martin endemic, Anolis pogus, coincides with the decline of a competitor. Journal of Heredity, esaf039. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esaf039

  8. Gorneau, J.A., Cala Riquelme, F., Crews, S.C., Montana, K.O., Spagna, J.C., Vink, C.J., Esposito, L.A. (2025). Mystery on the Bounty: The family-level status of Pacificana cockayni Hogg, 1904 (Araneae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution Mar:204:108256.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108256

  9. Myers, E.A., Alequín, L., Browne, A., Mulder, K.P., Rivera, D., Esposito, L.A., Bell, R.C., Hedges, S.B. (2024). Population divergence in co-distributed Caribbean landfrogs (Eleutherodactylidae: Eleutherodactylus) along the Soufrière volcanic slope of Guadeloupe Island, Lesser Antilles. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202(4), zlae128, https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae128

  10. Loria, S.F., Ehrenthal, V.L., Esposito, L.A. (2024). Revisiting the Scorpion Central Nervous System using microCT. Nature Scientific Reports 14, 27961. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76917-6

  11. Gorneau, J.A., Montana, K.O., Esposito, L.A. (2023). Marronoids: The (Mostly) Little Brown Spiders with a Big Story to Tell. Entomology Today, available at: https://entomologytoday.org/2023/11/30/marronoid-spiders-genomic-sequencing-phylogeny/

  12. Jain, P., Forbes, H., Gorneau, J.A., Esposito, L.A. (2023). A new species of alkali-sink Paruroctonus Werner, 1934 (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae) from California’s San Joaquin Valley. ZooKeys 1185: 199-239. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1185.103574

  13. Gorneau, J.A., Crews, S.C., Cala-Riquelme, F., Montana, K.O., Spagna, J.C., Ballarin, F., Almeida-Silva, L.M., Esposito, L.A. (2023). Webs of intrigue: museum genomics elucidate relationships of the marronoid spider clade (Araneae). Insect Systematics and Diversity 7(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/isd/ixad021

  14. Montana, K.O., Kim, R., Quesada-Khoury, K., Basas, R., Garcia, G., Richardson-Beatty,  M., Voong, V., Esposito, L.A. (2023). Untold Stories from the Archives: Uncovering Hidden Figures at the California Academy of Sciences. Bulletin of the Society of Systematic Biologists 2(1): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.18061/bssb.v2i1.9189

  15. Gorneau, J.A., Kulkarni, S., Cala-Riquelme, F., Esposito, L.A. (2023). Measuring what we don’t know: biodiversity catalogs reveal bias in taxonomic effort.  Bioscience 73(2): 112–123 (cover). https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biac116  

  16. Morrill, E., Crews, S. Esposito, L., Griswold, C.E., Ramirez, M. (2023). A revision of the genus Porteria and the phylogeny and biogeography of Porteriinae (Araneae: Desidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society 198(2): 368–461. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac093

  17. Yuan, M.L., Crews, S.C., Esposito, L.A., Allen, L.C., Bell, R.C. (2023). Confirmed presence of Sphaerodactylus sputator on Saba, Caribbean Netherlands. Herpetology Notes 16: 1–4.

  18. Jain, P., Forbes, H., Esposito, L.A. (2022). Two new alkali-sink specialist species of Paruroctonus Werner 1934 (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae) from central California. Zookeys 1117:139–188. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1117.76872

  19. Gorneau, J.A., Ausich, W.I., Bertolino, S., Bik, H., Daly, M., Demissew, S., Donoso, D.A., Folk, R., Freire-Fierro, A., Ghazanfar, S.A., Grace, O.M., Hu, A.Q., Kulkarni, S., Lichter-Marck, I.H., Lohmann, L.G., Malumbres-Olarte, J., Muasya A.M., Pérez-González, A., Singh, Y., Siniscalchi, C. M., Specht, C.D., Stigall, A.L., Tank, D.C., Walker, L.A., Wright, D.F., Zamani, A., & Esposito, L.A. (2022). Framing the Future for Monography: Improving Recognition, Support, and Access. Bulletin for the Society of Systematic Biologists 1(1). https://doi.org/10.18061/bssb.v1i1.8328

  20. Esposito, L.A., Daly, M., Fujita, M.K., Gorneau, J.A., Rapacciuolo, G., Rocha, L., Scheinberg, L., Ware, J., Welch, C.K., Young, A., & Bell, R.C. (2022). A new framework for assessing the contributions of professionals in the natural sciences. Bulletin for the Society of Systematic Biologists 1(1). https://doi.org/10.18061/bssb.v1i1.8332

  21. Esposito, L.A. (2021). New Science: An exhibit telling the stories of LGBTQ scientists. Informal Learning Review 168: 3–5.

  22. Goodman, A.M., Prendini, L., Francke, O.F., Esposito, L.A. (2021). Systematic revision of the arboreal Neotropical “thorellii” clade of Centruroides Marx, 1890, bark scorpions (Buthidae CL Koch, 1837) with descriptions of six new species. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History  452(1): 1–92.

  23. Goodman, A.M., Predini, L., Esposito, L.A. (2021). Systematics of the Arboreal Neotropical ‘thorellii’ Clade of Centruroides Bark Scorpions (Buthidae) and the Efficacy of Mini-Barcodes for Museum Specimens. Diversity 13(9): 441. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13090441

  24. Crews S.C., Galvis, W., Esposito, L.A. (2021). Gliding canopy flatties and relatives from the Selenops banksi group (Araneae: Selenopidae). Journal of Natural History 54 (35-36): 2342-2365.  

    https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2020.1844914

  25. Crews, S.C., Galvis, W., Torres, R.A., Gutiérrez-Estrada, M.A., Sarmiento, J., Esposito, L.A. (2021). The flattie spiders of the Selenops isopodus species group (Araneae: Selenopidae) with a review of Selenops records from Colombia. Zootaxa 21;4964(1): zootaxa.4964.1.3. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4964.1.3

  26. Van Dam, M.H., Henderson, J.B, Esposito, L., Trautwein, M. (2021). Genomic Characterization and Curation of UCEs Improves Species Tree Reconstruction,  Systematic Biology,  70(2): 307–321, syaa063.

    https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syaa063

  27. Goodman, A. and Esposito, L. (2020). Niche partitioning in congeneric scorpions. Invertebrate Biology 139:e12280. https://doi.org/10.1111/ivb.12280

  28. Crews, S.C. and L.A. Esposito. (2020). Towards a Synthesis of the Caribbean Biogeography of Terrestrial Arthropods. BMC Evolutionary Biology 20(12). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-019-1576-z

  29. Thomas, G.W.C., Dohmen, E., Hughes, D.S.T.,, Esposito, L.A. et al. (2020). Gene content evolution in the arthropods. Genome Biology 21(15). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-019-1925-7

  30. Garcia, E., Griswold, C., Esposito, L.A. (2020). Systematics and evolution of Kibramoa Chamberlin 1924 (Araneae: Plectreuridae) from the California Floristic Province. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 58(1): 114–126. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzs.12357

  31. Crews, S.C., Garcia, E.L., Spagna, J.C., Van Dam, M.H. Esposito, L.A. (2020). The Life Aquatic with Spiders (Araneae): Repeated Evolution of Aquatic Habitat Association in Dictynidae and Allied Taxa. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 1-59. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz139

  32. Esposito, L.A. and L. Prendini. (2019). Island Ancestors and New World Biogeography: A Case Study from the Scorpions (Buthidae: Centruroidinae). Scientific Reports 9: 3500.

  33. Elie, T., Bell, R.C., Womack, M.C., Esposito, L.A., Kaya, A. (2019). Hyperolius adspersus (Sprinkled Long Reed Frog) Predation Natural History Note. Herpetological Review 50 (4): 759-760.

  34. Goodman, A.M., Esposito, L.A., Ponce, P. L., Sauer, A.R., Stiner, E.O., Ruane, S. (2019). New record and range expansion of Masticophis lateralis (Hallowell, 1853) (Squamata, Colubridae) into western Baja California Sur, Mexico. Check List 15:2, 345–348.

  35. Crews, S.C., Debrot, A.O., van Hoorn, G., Galvis, W., Esposito, L.A. (2019). The Arachnids of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Caribbean Journal of Science 49(2-3): 125–140.

  36. Esposito, L.A. (2018). OPINION: ‘People have found the strength to come out after reading other scientists’ stories’. The Biologist 65(5) p7.

  37. Van Dam, M.H., Trautwein, M., Spicer, G.S., Esposito, L. (2018). Advancing mite phylogenomics: Designing ultraconserved elements for Acari phylogeny. Molecular Ecology Resources 19:2.

  38. Esposito, L.A., Yamaguti, H.Y., Pinto-da-Rocha, R., Prendini, L. (2018). Plucking with the plectrum: Phylogeny of the New World buthid scorpion subfamily Centruroidinae Kraus, 1955 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) reveals evolution of three pecten-sternite stridulation organs. Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny 76(1): 87–122.

  39. Schwager, E.E.,, Esposito, L.A. et al. (2017). The house spider genome reveals an ancient whole-genome duplication during arachnid evolution. BMC Biology 15:62.

  40. Esposito, L.A., Yamaguti, H.Y., Souza, C.A., Pinto-da-Rocha, R, and Prendini, L. (2017). Systematic revision of the neotropical club-tailed scorpions, Physoctonus, Rhopalurus, and Troglorhopalurus, revalidation of Heteroctenus, and descriptions of two new genera and three new species (Buthidae, Rhopalurusinae). Bulletins of the American Museum of Natural History 415: 1–134.

  41. Crews, S.C. and L.A. Esposito. (2017). Desert salt flats as refugia for terrestrial arthropods. Mojave National Preserve Science Newsletter April 2017: 4–7.

  42. Crews, S.C. and L.A. Esposito. (2017). Life on the Edge: Terrestrial Arthropod Communities on Salt Flats. Desert Report, December 2017: 6–7. 

  43. Sharma, P., Fernández, R., Esposito, L.A., González-Santillán, E., Monod, L. (2015). Phylogenomic resolution of scorpions reveals multilevel discordance with morphological phylogenetic signal. Royal Proceedings B, 282(1804):20142953.

  44. Esposito, L.A., Bloom, T.,  Caicedo, L., Alicia-Serrano, A., Sánchez-Ruíz, J.A., Binford, G., Agnarsson, I. (2015). Islands within islands: cryptic radiation of tailless whip spiders (Amblypygi, Phrynus) in Caribbean caves.  Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 93: 107–117.

  45. Crews, S.C., Esposito, L.A., Cala-Raquelme, F. (2015). The Arachnids of Hellshire Hills, Jamaica. The Caribbean Naturalist, 28 1–14.

  46. Esposito, L.A., Dana, J., Walkup, S., Curley, J. (2014). Microbiome, middle school curriculum unit. Learning Design Group, Amplify Education, New York, NY.

  47. Scinta, P., Duncan, K., Esposito, L.A., Romano, C., Loper, S. (2014). Phase Change and Temperature, middle school curriculum unit. Learning Design Group, Amplify Education, New York, NY.

  48. Quintero, D. & Esposito, L.A. (2014). A new species of Centruroides Marx (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Panama and new distribution records for Centruroides bicolor (Pocock, 1898) and Centruroides granosus (Thorell, 1876). Zootaxa, 3795:373–82.

  49. Bloom, T., Binford, G., Esposito, L.A., Alayon Garcia, G., Peterson, I., Nishida, A., Loubet-Senear, K., Agnarsson, I. (2014). Convergent loss of eyes in two families of Caribbean cave spiders within a Hispaniola cave. Journal of Arachnology, 42(2):148–154.

  50. Esposito, L.A. (2011). Systematics and Biogeography of the New World Scorpion Genus Centruroides Marx, 1890 (Scorpiones: Buthidae).  Doctoral Dissertation, City University of New York.

  51. Prendini, L. and Esposito, L.A. (2010). New Parabuthus species (Scorpiones: Buthidae) endemic to the Central Namib gravel plains, Namibia, a reanalysis of Parabuthus phylogeny and comments on arachnid endemism in the Central Namib.  Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society 159(3): 673-710.

  52. Prendini, L., Esposito, L.A., Huff, J.C., and Volschenk, E.S. (2009). Redescription of Rhopalurus abudi (Scorpiones: Buthidae), with first description of the male and first record from mainland Hispaniola.  Journal of Arachnology, 37:2.