David Harold Kistner

David H Kistner 1931-2021 David H Kistner, explorer, professor of biology and noted authority on the taxonomy of insects that live with ants and termites, passed away Wednesday March 10, at Enloe Hospital. During his lifetime fascination with insects, he collected, systematized and named over 357 insect genera and species. He and his family made extensive collecting trips to the tropics in Africa, Asia, and South and Central America. He was funded by 15 National Science Foundation grants, as well as other private foundations. He taught numerous students in the Biology Department of California State University Chico from 1959 – 1992, receiving several Outstanding Professor honors at CSUC, as well as the system wide Outstanding Professor award in 1976. In addition to teaching and his taxonomic research, he authored and co authored over 200 scientific papers, edited a journal named Sociobiology, consulted for the EPA and California Fish and Game, and did field research for Dow Chemical’s termite abatement traps. He was an avid butterfly collector. He is preceded in death by his wife, Alzada Carlisle Kistner, and survived by his brother Dick Kistner, sister Anita Nitsche, daughters Alzada Magdalena and Kymry Kistner , grandchildren Kai and Alzada Roche, and longtime friend and caregiver, Esmeralda Dominguez and her family. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of David Harold Kistner, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.