Paul Alexander Opler (1938- ) - Entomologist

Biographical Sketch, by Sharon Landwehr, Archives Volunteer

Paul Alexander Opler was born on 3 August 1938 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He earned his B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley (1960). After serving in the U.S. Army (1961-1963), Opler received his M.A. from California State University, San Jose (1965), returning to the University of California, Berkeley for his Ph.D. (1970).

A stint as Research Associate for the Organization of Tropical Studies, San Jose, Costa Rica (1970-1974) led to a station with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Washington D.C. (1974). Other positions held were: Chief, Branch of Biological Support, Office of Endangered Species (1980-1982) and Managing Editor of Research and Development Information, Ft. Collins, Colorado (1983-1986). While in the latter position, Opler was Adjunct faculty at Colorado State University (1984-?) and published Butterflies East of the Great Plains: An Illustrated Natural History (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1984). (This was his second monograph, Oak Lepidoptera Ecology having been published in 1975.)

Opler's honors and memberships include: Alternate Fellow, National Science Foundation; Special Achievement award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1986); Member, Association Tropical Biology (Executive Director 1984-); American Institute of Biological Sciences (Secretary-Treasurer, 1985-); Xerces Society (vice-president, 1985-); and Pacific Coast Entomological Society.

He now lives in Loveland, Colorado (2001).

Sources Consulted:

Who's Who in the West 21st edition, 1987-1988, pg.550

California Academy of Sciences Manuscript Collection

Dr. Paul Arnaud, Entomologist, California Academy of Sciences