Snelling, Roy R. (1934-2008)

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Roy R. Snelling (September 30, 1934, Turlock, California - April 21, 2008, on expedition in Kenya) was an internationally renowned American entomologist who studied Hymenoptera, mainly ants, wasps, and bees. He was the emeritus collections manager at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County where he worked for over 30 years, joining the museum in 1963 and retiring in 1993. He dedicated his professional life to making insect biodiversity better known and appreciated.

As a foremost myrmecologist, he is credited with many important finds of rare or new ant species, such as the first Nobomessor cockerellis colony in California, Myrmecocystus tenuinodis Snelling 1976 (the honeypot ant), Neivamyrmex wilsoni Snelling & Snelling 2007, and Myrmecocystus wheeleri, named by Snelling after the noted myrmecologist William Morton Wheeler, who was also William Steele Creighton's academic advisor. Snelling wrote that he was much influenced by W. S. Creighton's important 1950 volume The Ants of North America.[1] In his career, Snelling would collaborate many times with Creighton, whose ant collection is now housed at the Los Angeles county museum.

Snelling studied at junior college in Modesto, California, but dropped out to become self-educated. Before going to the Los Angeles County museum, he spent time in the U. S. Army (1959) and as an inspector with the California Department of Agriculture.

Snelling also studied briefly at the University of Kansas but did not complete the graduate program. Perhaps his Cherokee Indian blood that made him such a fine field worker in many countries and regions of the world also made him impatient with the slow ritual of the classroom.

PUBLICATIONS

 * [[Media:Creighton & Snelling 1966.pdf|Creighton, W. S.; Snelling, R. R. 1967 [1966]. The rediscovery of Camponotus (Myrmaphaenus) yogi Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Psyche (Camb.) 73: 187-195 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Francoeur & Snelling 1979.pdf|Francoeur, A.; Snelling, R. R. 1979. Notes for a revision of the ant genus Formica. 2. Reidentifications for some specimens from the T. W. Cook collection and new distribution data (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 309: 1-7 [1979-III-16] PDF]]


 * [[Media:Hunt & Snelling 1975.pdf|Hunt, J. H.; Snelling, R. R. 1975. A checklist of the ants of Arizona. J. Ariz. Acad. Sci. 10: 20-23 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Longino & Snelling 2002.pdf|Longino, J.T. & Snelling, R.R. 2002. A taxonomic revision of the Procryptocerus of Central America. Contributions in Science 495: 1-30. [22.xi.2002.] PDF]]


 * [[Media:Neivamyrmex 2007.pdf|Snelling, G. C. and R. R. Snelling. 2007. New synonymy, new species, new keys to Neivamyrmex army ants of the United States. Pages 459-550 in Snelling, R. R., B. L. Fisher and P. S. Ward. Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Homage to E.O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 80. PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1963.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1963. The United States species of fire ants of the genus Solenopsis, subgenus Solenopsis Westwood, with synonymy of Solenopsis aurea Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Calif. Dep. Agric. Bur. Entomol. Occ. Pap. 3: 1-15 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1965a.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1965a. Studies on California ants. 1. Leptothorax hirticornis Emery, a new host and descriptions of the female and ergatoid male (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. South. Calif. Acad. Sci. 64: 16-21 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1965b.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1965b. Studies on California ants. 2. Myrmecina californica M. R. Smith (Hymenoptera; Formicidae). Bull. South. Calif. Acad. Sci. 64: 101-105 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1966.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1966. The female of Eucryptocerus placidus (F. Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. South. Calif. Acad. Sci. 65: 37-40 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1967b.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1967. Studies on California ants. 3. The taxonomic status of Proceratium californicum Cook (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 124: 1-10 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1968a.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1968a. Taxonomic notes on some Mexican cephalotine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 132: 1-10 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1968b.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1968b. Studies on California ants. 4. Two species of Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 70: 350-358 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1968c.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1968c. A new species of Eurhopalothrix from El Salvador (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 154: 1-4 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1969b.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1969b. Taxonomic notes on the Myrmecocystus melliger complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 170: 1-9 PDF]]


 * Snelling, R. R. 1969c. Notes on the systematics and dulosis of some western species of Formica, subgenus Raptiformica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 71: 194-197


 * [[Media:Snelling 1970.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1970. Studies on California ants, 5. Revisionary notes on some species of Camponotus, subgenus Tanaemyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 72: 390-397 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1971a.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1971a. Studies on California ants. 6. Three new species of Myrmecocystus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 214: 1-16 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1971b.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1971b. A new species of Simopelta from Costa Rica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. South. Calif. Acad. Sci. 70: 16-17 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1973a.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1973a. Two ant genera new to the United States (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 236: 1-8 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1973b.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1973b. The ant genus Conomyrma in the United States (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 238: 1-6 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1973c.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1973c. Studies on California ants. 7. The genus Stenamma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 245: 1-38 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1974.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1974. Studies on California ants. 8. A new species of Cardiocondyla (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 82: 76-81 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1975a.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1975. Descriptions of new Chilean ant taxa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 274: 1-19 PDF]]


 * | Snelling, R. R. 1976. A revision of the honey ants, genus Myrmecocystus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Nat. Hist. Mus. Los Angel. Cty. Sci. Bull. 24: 1-163


 * Snelling, R. R. 1979a. Three new species of the Palaeotropical arboreal ant genus Cataulacus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 315: 1-8


 * [[Media:Snelling 1979b.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1979b. Aphomomyrmex and a related new genus of arboreal African ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 316: 1-8 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1981.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1981. Systematics of social Hymenoptera. Pp. 369-453 in: Hermann, H. R. (ed.) Social insects. Volume 2. New York: Academic Press, xiii + 491 pp. PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1982a.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1982a [1981]. The taxonomy and distribution of some North American Pogonomyrmex and descriptions of two new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. South. Calif. Acad. Sci. 80: 97-112 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1982b.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1982b. A revision of the honey ants, genus Myrmecocystus, first supplement (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. South. Calif. Acad. Sci. 81: 69-86 PDF]]


 * Snelling, R. R. 1985. [Untitled. Camponotus bakeri Wheeler 1904 (elevated from subspecies of C. hyatti).] P. 24 in: Miller, S. E. The California Channel Islands - past, present and future: an entomological perspective. Pp. 3-28 in: Menke, A. S., Miller, D. R. (eds.) Entomology of the California Channel Islands. Proceedings of the first symposium.


 * [[Media:Snelling 1986.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1986. New synonymy in Caribbean ants of the genus Leptothorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 88: 154-156 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1988.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1988. Taxonomic notes on Nearctic species of Camponotus, subgenus Myrmentoma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pp. 55-78 in: Trager, J. C. (ed.) Advances in myrmecology. Leiden: E. J. Brill, xxvii + 551 pp. PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1992.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1992a. Two unusual new myrmicine ants from Cameroon (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Psyche (Camb.) 99: 95-101 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling 1995a.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 1995a. Systematics of Nearctic ants of the genus Dorymyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 454: 1-14 PDF]]


 * Snelling, R. R. 1999a. [Untitled. Cephalotes kukulcan Snelling new species.] Pp. 402-410 in: De Andrade, M. L., Baroni Urbani, C. Diversity and adaptation in the ant genus Cephalotes, past and present. Stuttg. Beitr. Naturk. Ser. B (Geol. Paläontol.) 271:1-889.


 * Snelling, R. R. 1999b. [Untitled. Cephalotes chacmul Snelling new species.] Pp. 611-615 in: De Andrade, M. L., Baroni Urbani, C. Diversity and adaptation in the ant genus Cephalotes, past and present. Stuttg. Beitr. Naturk. Ser. B (Geol. Paläontol.) 271:1-889.


 * Snelling, R. R. 2000. A review of the Camponotus montivagus complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 36: 599-611


 * Snelling, R. R. 2001. Two new species of thief ants (Solenopsis) from Puerto Rico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 3B: 511-525.


 * [[Media:Snelling 2006.pdf|Snelling, R. R. 2006. Taxonomy of the Camponotus festinatus complex in the United States of America (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8: 83-97. PDF]]


 * Snelling, R. R. 2007. A review of the arboreal Afrotropical ant genus Axinidris. Pages 551-579 in Snelling, R. R., B. L. Fisher and P. S. Ward. Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Homage to E.O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 80,


 * Snelling, Roy R. 2008. A new name for Myopias punctigera (Emery 1901), not M. maligna var. punctigera (Emery 1900) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington Volume: 110 Issue: 1 Page(s): 261


 * [[Media:Snelling & Buren 1985.pdf|Snelling, R. R.; Buren, W. F. 1985. Description of a new species of slave-making ant in the Formica sanguinea group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Great Lakes Entomol. 18: 69-78 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling & Cover 1992.pdf|Snelling, R. R.; Cover, S. P. 1992. Description of a new Proceratium from Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Psyche (Camb.) 99: 49-53 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling & Hunt 1975.pdf|Snelling, R. R.; Hunt, J. H. 1975. The ants of Chile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Chil. Entomol. 9: 63-129 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling & Longino 2002.pdf|Snelling, R. R.; Longino, J. T. 1992. Revisionary notes on the fungus-growing ants of the genus Cyphomyrmex, rimosus group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini). Pp. 479-494 in: Quintero, D., Aiello, A. (eds.) Insects of Panama and Mesoamerica: selected studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, xxii + 692 pp. PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling & Snelling 2007.pdf|Snelling, G. C.; Snelling, R. R. 2007. New synonymy, new species, new keys to Neivamyrmex army ants of the United States. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80:459-550. [2007-09] PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling et al 2009.pdf|Snelling, R. R.; Snelling, G. C.; Schmidt, J. O.; Cover, S. P. 2009. The sexual castes of Pogonomyrmex anzensis Cole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 18:315-321. [2009] PDF]]


 * [[Media:Snelling & Torres 1998.pdf|Snelling, R. R.; Torres, J. A. 1998. Camponotus ustus Forel and two similar new species from Puerto Rico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contr. Sci. (Los Angel.) 469: 1-10 PDF]]


 * [[Media:Jones T and Snelling R and Torres J 2000.pdf|Torres, J. A.; Snelling, R. R.; Jones, T.H. 2000. Distribution, ecology and behavior of Anochetus kempfi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and description of the sexual forms. Sociobiology 36: 505-516 PDF]]