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Background Early-stage mycosis fungoides (MF) includes involvement of dermatopathic lymph nodes (LNs) or early lymphomatous LNs. There is a lack of unanimity among current guidelines regarding the indications for initial staging imaging in early-stage presentation of MF in the absence of enlarged palpable LNs. Objectives To investigate how often imaging is performed in patients with early-stage presentation of MF, to assess the yield of LN imaging, and to determine what disease characteristics promoted imaging. Methods A review of clinicopathologically confirmed newly diagnosed patients with cutaneous patch/plaque (T1/T2) MF from PROspective Cutaneous Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (PROCLIPI) data. Results PROCLIPI enrolled 375 patients with stage T1/T2 MF: 304 with classical MF and 71 with folliculotropic MF. Imaging was performed in 169 patients (45%): 83 with computed tomography, 18 with positron emission tomography-computed tomography and 68 with ultrasound. Only nine of these (5%) had palpable enlarged (>= 15 mm) LNs, with an over-representation of plaques, irrespectively of the 10% body surface area cutoff that distinguishes T1 from T2. Folliculotropic MF was not more frequently imaged than classical MF. Radiologically enlarged LNs (>= 15 mm) were detected in 30 patients (18%); only seven had clinical lymphadenopathy. On multivariate analysis, plaque presentation was the sole parameter significantly associated with radiologically enlarged LNs. Imaging of only clinically enlarged LNs upstaged 4% of patients (seven of 169) to at least IIA, whereas nonselective imaging upstaged another 14% (24 of 169). LN biopsy, performed in eight of 30 patients, identified N3 (extensive lymphomatous involvement) in two and N1 (dermatopathic changes) in six. Conclusions Physical examination was a poor determinant of LN enlargement or involvement. Presence of plaques was associated with a significant increase in identification of enlarged or involved LNs in patients with early-stage presentation of MF, which may be important when deciding who to image. Imaging increases the detection rate of stage IIA MF, and identifies rare cases of extensive lymphomatous nodes, upstaging them to advanced-stage IVA2.

Background Early-stage mycosis fungoides (MF) includes involvement of dermatopathic lymph nodes (LNs) or early lymphomatous LNs. There is a lack of unanimity among current guidelines regarding the indications for initial staging imaging in early-stage presentation of MF in the absence of enlarged palpable LNs. Objectives To investigate how often imaging is performed in patients with early-stage presentation of MF, to assess the yield of LN imaging, and to determine what disease characteristics promoted imaging. Methods A review of clinicopathologically confirmed newly diagnosed patients with cutaneous patch/plaque (T1/T2) MF from PROspective Cutaneous Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (PROCLIPI) data. Results PROCLIPI enrolled 375 patients with stage T1/T2 MF: 304 with classical MF and 71 with folliculotropic MF. Imaging was performed in 169 patients (45%): 83 with computed tomography, 18 with positron emission tomography-computed tomography and 68 with ultrasound. Only nine of these (5%) had palpable enlarged (>= 15 mm) LNs, with an over-representation of plaques, irrespectively of the 10% body surface area cutoff that distinguishes T1 from T2. Folliculotropic MF was not more frequently imaged than classical MF. Radiologically enlarged LNs (>= 15 mm) were detected in 30 patients (18%); only seven had clinical lymphadenopathy. On multivariate analysis, plaque presentation was the sole parameter significantly associated with radiologically enlarged LNs. Imaging of only clinically enlarged LNs upstaged 4% of patients (seven of 169) to at least IIA, whereas nonselective imaging upstaged another 14% (24 of 169). LN biopsy, performed in eight of 30 patients, identified N3 (extensive lymphomatous involvement) in two and N1 (dermatopathic changes) in six. Conclusions Physical examination was a poor determinant of LN enlargement or involvement. Presence of plaques was associated with a significant increase in identification of enlarged or involved LNs in patients with early-stage presentation of MF, which may be important when deciding who to image. Imaging increases the detection rate of stage IIA MF, and identifies rare cases of extensive lymphomatous nodes, upstaging them to advanced-stage IVA2.

Background The PROspective Cutaneous Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (PROCLIPI) study is a prospective analysis of an international database. Here we examine front-line treatments and quality of life (QoL) in patients with newly diagnosed mycosis fungoides (MF). Objectives To identify (i) differences in first-line approaches according to tumour-nodes-metastasis-blood (TNMB) staging; (ii) parameters related to a first-line systemic approach and (iii) response rates and QoL measures. Methods In total, 395 newly diagnosed patients with early-stage MF (stage IA-IIA) were recruited from 41 centres in 17 countries between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2018 following central clinicopathological review. Results The most common first-line therapy was skin-directed therapy (SDT) (322 cases, 81 center dot 5%), while a smaller percentage (44 cases, 11 center dot 1%) received systemic therapy. Expectant observation was used in 7 center dot 3%. In univariate analysis, the use of systemic therapy was significantly associated with higher clinical stage (IA, 6%; IB, 14%; IIA, 20%; IA-IB vs. IIA, P < 0 center dot 001), presence of plaques (T1a/T2a, 5%; T1b/T2b, 17%; P < 0 center dot 001), higher modified Severity Weighted Assessment Tool (> 10, 15%

Background/Aim: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, neutrophilic dermatosis often associated with an underlying disease, and clinical data or larger studies are rare. Methods: In this retrospective study, disease characteristics, clinical manifestations, and treatment response were evaluated in a Swiss cohort of PG patients. Results: In participating centers, 34 cases (21 females) of PG were analyzed based on clinical and histological presentation between 2002 and 2012. The mean age at diagnosis was 61.2 years; 50% of the patients experienced only 1 episode of PG. In 13 cases (out of 20), recurrences occurred during PG therapy; 64.1% showed only 1 lesion simultaneously. The predominant localization was the lower limb (67%). The lesions were disseminated in 26.6%. At the time of diagnosis or recurrence, the mean diameter was 37.6 mm and the mean ulcer size was 10.3 cm2. C-reactive protein (CRP) was elevated in 73.2%; leukocytosis was present in 58.9% and neutrophilia in 50.9%. At least 1 associated comorbidity was present in 85% (the most prominent being cardiovascular disease). The most often used systemic treatments were steroids (68.3%), cyclosporine A (31.7%), dapsone (31.7%), and infliximab (13.3%), and the most often used topicals were tacrolimus 0.1% (48.3%) and corticosteroids (35%). PG healed completely at discharge in 50.8%. The average time to diagnosis was 8 months, and the mean duration to healing was 7.1 months. Conclusion: PG is a difficult-to-diagnose skin disease. Here, markers for inflammation such as CRP, leukocytosis, and neutrophilia were elevated in 50-73% of the PG patients.

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Anhand der Anamnese, der Klinik sowie der Untersuchungsresultate wird der Fall einer eosinophilen Fasziitis beschrieben und das Krankheitsbild vorgestellt. Eine Beteiligung innerer Organe bei dieser Systemerkrankung aus dem Formenkreis der fibrosierenden Erkrankungen ist selten. Beim beschriebenen Fall kam es zu einer Nierenbeteiligung mit Proteinurie und Hypoproteinämie. Die therapeutischen Optionen mit Kombinationstherapien mit Steroiden, Ciclosporin A und Methotrexat werden dargestellt.

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Background: Granulomatous cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are rare and represent a diagnostic challenge. Only limited data on the clinicopathological and prognostic features of granulomatous CTCLs are available. We studied 19 patients with granulomatous CTCLs to further characterize the clinicopathological, therapeutic, and prognostic features. Observations: The group included 15 patients with granulomatous mycosis fungoides (GMF) and 4 with granulomatous slack skin (GSS) defined according to the World Health Organization-European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer classification for cutaneous lymphomas. Patients with GMF and GSS displayed overlapping histologic features and differed only clinically by the development of bulky skin folds in GSS. Histologically, epidermotropism of lymphocytes was not a prominent feature and was absent in 9 of 19 cases (47%). Stable or progressive disease was observed in most patients despite various treatment modalities. Extracutaneous spread occurred in 5 of 19 patients (26%), second lymphoid neoplasms developed in 4 of 19 patients (21%), and 6 of 19 patients (32%) died of their disease. Disease-specific 5-year survival rate in GMF was 66%. Conclusions: There are clinical differences between GMF and GSS, but they show overlapping histologic findings and therefore cannot be discriminated by histologic examination alone. Development of hanging skin folds is restricted to the intertriginous body regions. Granulomatous CTCLs show a therapy-resistant, slowly progressive course. The prognosis of GMF appears worse than that of classic nongranulomatous mycosis fungoides. ©2008 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND. Cutaneous lymphomas expressing a cytotoxic or natural killer (NK) cell phenotype represent a group of lymphoproliferative disorders for which there is currently much confusion and little consensus regarding the best nomenclature and classification. METHODS. This study analyzes 48 cases of primary cutaneous lymphoma expressing cytotoxic proteins and/or the NK cell marker, CD56. These cases were collected for a workshop of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Cutaneous Lymphoma Task Force, to better clarify the clinical, morphologic, and phenotypic features of these uncommon tumors. RESULTS. Several categories with different clinical and pathologic features were delineated: 1) aggressive, CD8+, epidermotropic, cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma; 2) mycosis fungoides, cytotoxic immunophenotype variant; 3) subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma; 4) NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type; 5) CD4+, NK cell lymphoma; 6) blastoid NK cell lymphoma; (7) intravascular NK-like lymphoma; and 8) cytotoxic, peripheral T-cell lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS. Our data show that primary cutaneous cytotoxic/NK cell lymphomas include distinct groups of diseases, clinically, histologically, and biologically. Because the finding of a cytotoxic phenotype often has prognostic significance, the routine use of cytotoxic markers in the diagnosis and classification of cutaneous lymphomas should be expanded

Infections with varicella zoster virus (VZV) are common viral infections associated with significant morbidity. Diagnosis and management are complex, particularly in immunocompromised patients and during pregnancy. The present recommendations have been established by a multidisciplinary panel of specialists and endorsed by numerous Swiss medical societies involved in the medical care of such patients (Appendix). The aim was to improve the care of affected patients and to reduce complications.

The terminology and classification of lymphoproliferative disorders in the skin remains a source of confusion for clinicians and pathologists. More than 25 types of malignant lymphoid neoplasms may involve the skin. These either arise primarily or represent secondary cutaneous involvement due to the spread of node-based lymphomas, other extracutaneous lymphomas or leukemias. In addition, there is a variety of cutaneous pseudolymphomatous reactions. This article addresses the histopathological features of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas and B-cell pseudolymphomas and presents a modern approach to the diagnosis of these lymphoid neoplasms.

Cutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified/not otherwise specified (PTL NOS) represents a phenotypically and prognostically heterogenous group of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) that do not fit into any of well defined defined CTCL subtypes. In the WHO-EORTC classification as well as the WHO classification, three entities have been delineated as provisional rare subtypes of PTL based on their characteristic clinico-pathological, immunophenotypic and prognostic features and have been separated out from PTL, NOS: Primary cutaneous CD4-positive small/medium T-cell lymphoma (CD4+ SMTL), primary cutaneous CD8-positive aggressive epidermotropic T-cell lymphoma (CD8+ AECTCL), and primary cutaneous gamma/delta T-cell lymphoma (CGD-TCL). CD4+ SMTL manifests in most patients with a solitary nodule in the head and neck area and nodular infiltrates of CD4+ small to medium-sized lymphocytes with nuclear pleomorphism. The prognosis of this lymphoproliferation is excellent in patients with a solitary lesion, but may be impaired in patients with multifocal disease. Rapidly evolving erosive or necrotic plaques and nodules with an epidermotropic infiltrate of CD8+ atypical lymphocytes are the hallmark of CD8+ AECTCL, which exhibits a poor prognosis. CGD-TCL displays a broad spectrum of clinical and histological manifestations with expression of the T-cell receptor gamma/delta chain as the common denominator and diagnostic marker. As most of other forms of PTL, CGD-TCL carries a poor prognosis. Despite the rarity of PTL NOS, clinicians as well as dermatopathologists and pathologists should be familiar with these rare CTC, especially since most of these lymphomas exhibit an unfavourable prognosis. Immediate intense treatment with multiagent chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is indicated in patients with PTL NOS. This review focuses on the clinicopathological aspects, the diagnostic criteria and the classification of the rare subtypes of PTL and PTL NOS.

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4. Cyphomyrmex paniscus Wheeler (Figs. 3, 20, 28, 49) Cyphomyrmex paniscus Wheeler, 1925: 42-44 (Worker, female, male; Brazil). Types. - 3 workers and 3 alate females (MCZ), collected by Hj. Mosen in Brazil (locality not given), examined. Worker (lectotype). - Total length 4.5 mm; head length 1.07 mm; head width 0.98 mm; thorax length 1.36 mm; hind femur length 1.25 mm. Light reddish brown. Integument opaque and finely granular, including the antennal scrobe. Head as shown in Fig. 3. Mandibles finely striolate-punctate, chewing border serially dentate with (7-) 9 teeth. Clypeus: anterior border mesially excised, middle portion obliquely raised toward front, with two prominent lateral and widely separated blunt teeth next to the origin of frontal lobes. Two pairs of longitudinal carinules on dorsum of head, one extremely feeblejust behind the deeply impressed frontal area, the other strong, more widely spaced and posteriorly slightly converging on vertex. Frontal carinae behind moderately expanded frontal lobes scarcely sinuous and slightly diverging. Supraocular tooth conical and prominent, not connected by a low ridge with inferior occipital corner. Inferior or outer border of antennal scrobe only vestigially carinate and somewhat indistinct between eyes and occipital lobes. The latter (Fig. 49) prominent, rounded, not longer than their maximum width. Lower border of sides of head bluntly marginate but not carinate. Antennal scape in repose slightly projecting beyond tip of occipital lobe. All funicular segments distinctly longer than broad. Thorax as shown in Fig. 20; slender. Pronotum: anterior and lateral border of dorsal face marginate and carinate; a single prominent conical median tubercle on disc; lateral tubercles likewise prominent, blunt, projecting obliquely sidewards; anteroinferior corner of laterotergite with a small, acute tooth. Mesonotum: two pairs of prominent tubercles, anterior pair with elongate, laterally compressed base, triangular in profile, posterior, pair of subequal height, subconical. A deep and broad impression between posterior pair of mesonotal teeth and the anterior end of the widely spaced and feeble longitudinal carinules of basal face of epinotum which terminate behind in a small, rectangular tooth (sometimes indistinct). Legs relatively long and slender, hind femora weakly dilated and vestigially carinate on posteroinferior border at basal third. Pedicel as shown in Figs. 20 and 28. Petiole broader than long, anterior corners in dorsal view narrowly rounded, anterior face oblique, terminating in front of small paired dorsal tubercles. A shallow median impression between these tubercles. Postpetiole broader than long, compact, much broader than petiole, with a long raised perpendicular anterior face; dorsal face quadrituberculate, pairs of each side connected by a faint longitudinal, blunt and posteriorly diverging ridge, area between ridges, and laterad of posterior tubercles shallowly excavate, posterior border of postpetiole between posterior tubercles slightly emarginata Tergum 1 of gaster laterally marginate and subcarinate. Instead of a median pair of carinae there is a faint, longitudinal, median impression on anterior half. Small, fine, glittering and scattered hairs on body and appendages appressed; more conspicuous and denser on scapes and legs. Female (paratypes). - Total length 5.2 mm; head length 1.12-1.15 mm; head width 1.04-1.07 mm; thorax length 1.60 mm; hind femur length 1.39-1.44. Similar to the worker, with the usual differences of the caste. Differs from auritus, as follows: Head differences as stated below for worker. In addition, the anterior half of middle portion of clypeus is not quite perpendicular to, but rather continuous with, the posterior portion, wedged in between frontal lobes. Inferior head border only bluntly carinate. Midpronotal tooth small, lateral pronotal teeth welldeveloped and conspicuously projecting laterad. Mesonotum quite resembling, but welts, ridges and furrows not so strong. Scutellum lacking a distinct tumulus in front of the shorter apically blunt posterior teeth. Excision between the same teeth shallower. Epinotal spines fingerlike with the tips curved inwards. Petiole distinctly broader than long and narrower in the rear than in front. Postpetiole exactly as in worker, the sides scarcely convex and not conspicuously diverging caudad, dorsal longitudinal ridges blunt, but stronger than in worker. Gaster only laterally and weakly carinate on tergum 1 which bears in the middle a deeply impressed hairless longitudinal furrow, reaching beyond half. Rest of gaster finely tuberculata. Wings infumated, dull reddish-brown with slightly darker veins. Male described by Wheeler (1925). No specimens seen. Discussion. - The present species is known only from the type- series. In over-all similarity C. auritus seems to be the closest relative. The worker of paniscus differs from the former in the following characters: 1. Head broader, occipital lobes shorter and rounded both in dorsal and lateral view, not horn-like; supraocular tubercle lacking the connecting ridge with inferior occipital corner; scape projecting beyond the tip of occipital lobes. Inferior border not carinate. 2. Thorax: lateral and median pronotal tubercles higher; mesonotal tubercles subequal in height, anterior pair laterally compressed and triangular in profile; ridges on basal face of epinotum weak and more widely spaced. 3. Pedicelar segments broader than long. Petiole with anterior corners rounded; postpetiole with the connecting ridge between anterior and posterior tubercles blunt and low. 4. Gaster lacking the median pair of longitudinal costae on tergum 1, having instead a faint longitudinal impression. Wheeler's description is very good and detailed, with the exception of the following details: 1. His measurements are too low, due to a single linear-spread measuring. 2. The statement referring to a deep promesonotal constriction is a lapsus, should be mesoepinotal constriction. 3. 1 am at odds with the 3 pits mentioned for the petiole. At any rate, the types have no paired anterior pits on node; the posterior unpaired pit is the impression between the dorsal tubercles. Variation. - The lectotype worker is the tallest. The smallest of the three measures as follows: Total length 4.1 mm; head length 1.01 mm; head width 0.93 mm; thorax length 1.23 mm; hind femur length 1.20 mm. Note. - Unfortunately, the exact origin of the specimens is unknown. Among other captures by Hj. Mosen in Brazil, Wheeler cites Acromyrmex disciger Mayr, a typical denizen of southeastern Brazil. Hence it is quite probable that peniscus came from this region, the habitat of its closest relatives., Published as part of Kempf, W. W., 1964, A revision of the Neotropical fungus-growing ants of the genus Cyphomyrmex Mayr. Part I. Group of strigatus Mayr (Hym., Formicidae)., pp. 1-44 in Studia Entomologica (N. S.) 7 on pages 18-20

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8. Cyphomyrmex peltatus n. sp. (Figs. 13, 20, 35, 50) Worker (holotype). - Total length 3.1 mm; head length 0.72 mm; head width 0.69 mm; thorax length 1.04 mm; hind femur length 0.85 mm. Ferruginous; dorsum of head, scapes and tibiae strongly, promesonotum and gaster more lightly intuscated. Integument densely and finely granulate-punctate. Head as shown in Fig. 13. Mandibles finely striolatepunctate, somewhat shining. Anterior border of clypeus very gently convex, almost straight; lateral teeth triangular, not projecting. Frontal area impressed. Frontal lobes semicircular. Frontal carinae almost straight, diverging caudad, attaining tip of occipital corner. The latter scarcely, salient. Front with a weak and low tumulus just behind frontal area, followed by a shallow transverse depression between greatest constriction of frontal carinae. Carinae of vertex strong, subsemicircular, diverging both cephalad and caudad, the posterior end does not attain the occipital corner. Occiput perpendicular to vertex, distinctly excavate. Preocular carina curving mesad above eye; postocular carina extending from occipital corner to the inferior border of eye, containing the supraocular tooth, which in full-face view appears just as a blunt angle of postero-lateral border of head. Eyes with 7 facets across greatest diameter. Inferior border of cheeks sharply marginate. Antennal scape gradually but strongly incrassate toward apex; surpassing in repose the occipital corner by a distance which distinctly exceeds its maximum width. Funicular segments II-IX not longer than broad, segment I as long as II and III combined. Thorax as shown in Fig. 20. Midpronotal tubercles absent. Lateral pronotal tooth tubercular and obtuse, sending foreward a weak carinule which separates the pronotal dorsum from its sides; anteroinferior corner rectangular. Humeral angle not expressed. Mesonotum with a shallow pentagonal impression margined by blunt carinae formed by the very low and weltlike anterior and posterior pair of tubercles; the latter form at the antero-lateral corner a bluntly projecting tumulus. Mesoepinotal constriction rather strong. Basal face of epinotum laterally immarginate with two indistinct tubercles antero-laterally, blending posteriorly into the declivous face, which is laterally immarginate. Oblique welt on sides of epinotum indistinct. Hind femora (Fig. 50) ventrally angulate at basal third, postero-ventral border narrowly crested. Pedicel as shown in Figs. 20 and 35. Petiolar node nearly twice as broad as long, the anterior corners rounded, posteriorly strongly constricted in front of postpetiolar insertion; no dorsal ridges nor posterior salient laminule present. Postpetiole without a distinct anterior face, its dorsal face with a sagittal impression and postero-lateral impressions flanking a pair of blunt and low tubercles, which do not project beyond the entire posterior border. Tergum I of gaster with a feeble antero-median groove; lateral marginations at best vestigial. Hairs minute, short, shiny and recurved, not scale-like, never completely appressed. Female (paratypes). - Total length 3.6-3.7 mm; head length 0.77-0.80 mm; head width 0.75-0.77 mm; thorax length 1.15-1.20 mm; hind femur length 0.88-0.91 mm. Resembling the worker, with the differences peculiar to the caste. - Ocelli very small. Eyes with about 12 facets across the greatest diameter. Lateral pronotal tooth low, blunt, tumuliform. Mesonotum: Scutum with an antero-median, laterally marginate elevation between the anterior arms of the shallowly impressed Mayrian furrows; notauli indistinct. Paraptera flat with rounded border. Scutellum posteriorly bidentate, with a semicircular excision between the teeth. Epinotum continuously declivous, without a differentiated basal face; its upper portion laterally sharply carinate. Middorsal impression of postpetiole deeper. Wings unknown. Male unknown. Specimens examined: 28 workers and 3 females, as follows: Brazil, Santa Catarina; Ibicare, September 1960, F. Plaumann leg. 6 workers, 1 female (holotype and paratypes); Chapeco, V-1957, F. Plaumann leg. 1 worker; Nova Teutonia, strays from 8 different collections made between October 1953 and February 1963 by F. Plaumann, 17 workers; Rio Grande do Sul: Barao de Cotegipe, July 1960, F. Plaumann leg. 2 workers, 2 females; Boqueirao, September 1960, F. Plaumann leg. 2 workers. (All paratypes and deposited in WWK). Discussion. - The holotype worker is the tallest of the series; the smallest worker examined measures as follows: total length 2.8 mm; head length 0.66 mm; head width 0.63 mm; thorax length 0.93 mm; hind femur length 0.75 mm. Otherwise the paratypes agree completely with the holotype in all essential features and details. The present species is very close to rimosus but a few constant characters help to differentate both forms. The worker of peltatus differs from sympatric morphs of rimosus in the following characters: Lack of midpronotal tubercles; pentagonal impression on mesonotum, margined by the 4 low welts, the anterior pair forming a tubercle at the anterolateral corner of the pentagon; epinotum completely unarmed, the anterior pair of tubercles bluntly rounded and only vestigial; middorsal postpetiolar impression always deeper; hairs as a rule thin, recurved, not scale-like. The female is at once recognized by the lack of epinotal spines. The typical peltatus is known from southeastern Brazil in the States of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. 1 provisionally associate with the same species stray specimens from northern Brazil (Amazonas: Benjamim Constant, Manaus; Para: Belem; Mato Grosso: Utiariti) and Surinam (La Poulle, Vank; erroneously identified as kirbyi in my paper of 1961: 518), although they are smaller in size, of lighter color, having shorter scapes and rather scale-like hairs. Another species from Mexico, dentatus Forel, is doubtless a close relative of peltatus; it will be differentiated in the ensuing description., Published as part of Kempf, W. W., 1966, A revision of the Neotropical fungus-growing ants of the genus Cyphomyrmex Mayr. Part II. Group of rimosus (Spinola) (Hym. Formicidae)., pp. 161-200 in Studia Entomologica (N. S.) 8 on pages 181-184

5. Cyphomyrmex bigibbosus Emery (Figs. 2, 16, 30, 48) Cyphomyrmex bigibbosus Emery, 1894: 226-227 (Worker; Brazil: Para). - Kempf, 1959: 216 (Brazil, Amapa: Serra do Navio). Cyphomyrmex bigibbosus tumulus Weber. 1938: 185-187 (Worker, female, male; Britsih Guiana: Forest Settlement on Mazaruni River; Oronoque River). - Weber, 1940: 413, figs. 7, 11, 12 (Worker, male; British Guiana; Key). - Weber, 1946: 126-128 (British Guiana; Bion.). - NOV. SYN. Types. - The lone holotype worker of bigibbosus is in the Emery collection at the "Museo Civico di Storia Naturale", Genova, Italy; not seen. Syntypes of tumulus: 3 workers examined (MCZ, NAW). Worker. - Total length 3.2-3.4 mm; head length 0.75- 0.83 mm; head width 0.67-0.75 mm; thorax length 0.93-1.04 mm; hind femur length 0.83-0.91 mm. Fuscous reddish brown; head usually darkest; mandibles, coxae, femora and sometimes also thorax light brown. Integument, including antennal scrobe, densely granular and opaque. Head as shown in Fig. 2. Mandibles with 7-8 teeth. Clypeus: anterior border mesially excised; central portion of clypeus obliquely raised towards front, with two acute teeth next to origin of frontal lobes. Vertex with a pair of short carinules. Supraocular tumulus blunt, rounded, not prominent. Preocular carinae reaching the gently produced occipital lobes (Fig. 48), closing completely the antennal scrobe. Lower border of sides of head carinate. Antennal scapes, in repose, not projecting beyond tip of occipital lobes. Only funicular segments 1 and 10 distinctly longer than broad. Thorax as shown in Fig. 16. Pronotum: the single median tubercle quite distinct, the lateral ones very low and blunt, continued foreward as a faint, often more or less obsolete, margination that separates the pronotal dorsum from the sides: antero-inferior corner acutely dentate. Mesonotum: anterior pair of tubercles prominent and conical, posterior pair very low but distinct and blunt. Mesoepinotal constriction conspicuous but relatively shallow in profile. Epinotum completely rounded and unarmed. Hind femora a little dilated ventrally but not visibly carinate posteriorly at basal third. Pedicel as shown in Figs. 16 and 30. Petiole in dorsal view rather longer than broad, anterior corners of node not sharply angulate, dorsal ridges at best vestigial, posterior dorsal border without a raised carinule. Postpetiole, in dorsal view, subquadrate not transverse, with a perpendicular anterior face, a rather flat dorsal face, having the posterior border deeply excised between a pair of prominent horizontal tubercles. Tergum I of gaster strongly vaulted, lacking lateral margination and longitudinal carinae. Hairs minute, appressed, glittering, scattered; quite inconspicuous, on body and appendages. Female. - Total length 3.8 mm; head length 0.84 mm; head width 0.79 mm; thorax length 1.20 mm; hind femur length 0.96 mm. Resembling the worker with the differences of the caste. Differs from faunulus (see below) in the following features: Bicolored, head and gaster fuscous, thorax brown. Occipital lobes much less projecting both in full-face view as in- profile, much as in worker. Midpronotal tubercle faint but still distinguishable. Pair of anterior tubercles between arms of Mayrian furrows very low; scutum laterally not deeply furrowed. Paraptera postero-laterally with a short tooth. Posterior scutellar teeth much shorter, about as long as their width at base. Epinotal teeth completely absent. Pedicel as in worker; petiole elongate, with subparallel sides, anterior corners rather rounded; postpetiole with the same deep mesial excision on posterior border, flanked by prominent lobes, as in worker. Gaster bigibbous on anterior third of tergum I. Male described by Weber (1938), as of tumulus. Distribution. - This species is known only from the Amazon valley in Brazil and from British Guiana. Specimens examined. - Brazil, Amapa Territory: Serra do Navio (K. Lenko) 30 workers (DZSP, WWK); Amazonas State: Manaus (K. Lenko) 1 female (DZSP). - British Guiana: Forest Settlement on Mazaruni River (N. A. Weber) 3 workers (syntypes of C. bigibbosus tumulus) (NAW, MCZ). Discussion and synonymy. - Besides the typical form, described by Emery upon a lone worker from Para, Brazil, three additional races have hitherto been proposed, viz. faunulus Wheeler, petiolatus Weber and tumulus Weber. This splitting shows the serious effort of dealing with the undeniable variability cf the species. But the result is nevertheless inadequate, not only from a geographical viewpoint but mainly because the previous authors have seemingly misidentified the typical bigibbosus. Although 1 have been unable to secure the holotype of the latter, I believe that Emery's concise description contains sufficient elements to show that bigibbosus s. str. is identical with tumulus on account of the little drawn out occipital lobes, the acute inferior pronotal angle, the well-developed mid-pronotal tubercle and principally the postpetiole"postice impresso et bituberculato". On the other hand, bigibbosus sensu Weber is really a different form, taking the second oldest name of faunulus, with petiolatus as its junior synonym. On account of the afore mentioned characters, C. faunulus is apparently sufficiently distinct from bigibbosus to be considered a genuine species. It is sympatric with bigibbosus, but occupies, according to our present knowledge, a much greater territory of dispersal. The head of the bigibbosus worker is strikingly similar to that of strigatus, but the configuration of the thorax, the pedicel and the gaster shows clearly the conspicuous differences between both species. Variation. - The scanty material available for this investigation is rather uniform. The series from Serra do Navio shows a vestigial lateral margination of tergum I of gaster, which in profile forms an obtuse angle at basal third, as shown in Fig., 16. This condition does not obtain in the series from British Guiana, but is well-expressed in the queen from Manaus. Bionomics. - Professor Weber made field studies of the present species (" bigibbosus tumulus ") in British Guiana. His account (Weber 1946: 126-128) contains the only available published data and should be consulted by all those that are particularly interested in this subject. Following is a brief resume of his findings: C. bigibbosus is a rain forest species and seems to prefer high humidities. The nest chambers were found in rotted wood, mostly in excavate cells, but also under bark. The cavity size is variable but averages about 20-25 cc. The fungus garden is mostly sessile, resting on the floor, but variously attached at the sides. Occasionally the chains of fungus garden are also suspended from the ceiling. The substrate is heterogeneous, consisting mainly of yellow to brown particles, often of woody consistency; once even a head of a Dolichoderus ant was used as substrate. Once a worker of Prionopelta punctulata was found inside a nest, preying perhaps on the larvae of C. bigibbosus. The finding of an dealate queen in a tiny fungus garden, with a full grown worker, suggests splitting as a possible means of colony foundation., Published as part of Kempf, W. W., 1964, A revision of the Neotropical fungus-growing ants of the genus Cyphomyrmex Mayr. Part I. Group of strigatus Mayr (Hym., Formicidae)., pp. 1-44 in Studia Entomologica (N. S.) 7 on pages 20-23

7. Cyphomyrmex morschi Emery (Figs. 11, 24, 29, 54) Cyphomyrmex morschi Emery, 1887: 36(1 (Worker; Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul: Sao Lourenco). - v. Ihering, 1894: 360, 385 (Worker; Bion.). - Kempf, 1962: 34, figs. 32-34 (Worker; se. Brazil). Cyphomyrmex sp. (= morschi Emery), Mayr, 1887: 556 (Key). Cyphomyrmex (Mycetosoritis) personatus Santschi, 1923: 268-269 (Female; Argentina, Buenos Aires: Monte Hermoso). - NOV. SYN. Cyphomyrmex personatus Santschi, 1925: 164. Types. - Workers from Sao Lourenco do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, collected by Prof. Hermann von Jhering, in the Emery collection at Genova; not seen. A single specimen from the same locality, belonging to: the H. v. Ihering collection (now DZSP), is presumably a syntype or ai least a topotype. A slightly damaged, and alate female, from Monte Hermoso, Buenos Aires, holotype of personatus Santschi (NHMB). Worker (syntype?). - Total length 3.0 mm; head length 0.72 mm; head width 0.64 mm; thorax length 0.93 mm; hind femur length 0.80 mm. Medium brown; front, vertex and gaster darker; opaque. Antennal scrobe reticulate-punctate; slightly shining. Head as shown in Fig. 11. Mandibles finely striate, serially dentate, with 8-9 small teeth. Clypeal border not conspicuously excised in middle. Clypeal apron lacking small teeth next to origin of frontal carinae. The latter little expanded in front, moderately constricted at level of eyes, then gently diverging caudad and becoming more or less vestigial before reaching occipital corner. Preocular carina fading out at some distance behind eyes; posterior end of scrobe vestigially delimited. Paired carinules of vertex present. Supraocular tubercle marked by a low, very blunt tuberosity. Occipital corners (Fig. 54) narrowly rounded. Occiput excised. Scapes in repose surpassing the occipital border by a distance which approximates its maximum width. Funicular segments 2-6 longer than broad. Thorax as shown in Fig. 24. Three pronotal tubercles present, the median one very weak, vestigial; antero-inferior corner of pronotum acutely dentate. Two pairs of mesonotal tubercles, the anterior pair more prominent but low, the posterior pair much feebler. Basal face of epinotum without anterior tubercles or longitudinal ridges, lacking a well-defined longitudinal furrow: posterior corners minutely dentate. Femora and tibiae.; not prismatic, rather slender; hind femora not dilated nor ventrally carinate and angulate at basal third. Petiolar node (Figs. 24, 29) trapezoidal in dorsal view, broader in front than behind, anterior "corners rounded; posterodorsal border with a distinct, obliquely raised, short, transverse laminule. Postpetiole about as long as broad, with subparallel sides, lacking dorsal ridges and tubercles; tergum completely appressed to sternum; disc with a shallow postero-median pit. Gaster with sides of tergum I scarcely marginate, lacking an anteromedian short furrow. Appressed hairs small, fine, glittering, sparse; denser and more evident on head, gaster and appendages. Female. - Total length 3.5-3.8 mm; head length 0.80- 0.83 mm; head width 0.69-0.72 mm; thorax length 1.07-1.15 mm; fore wing 3.2 mm; hind femur length 0.85-0,98 mm. Resembling the worker, except for the differences of the caste. Posterior portion of antennal scrobe usually more distinctly carinate behind. Carinae of vertex prominent, bearing on lateral face the small posterior ocelli. Midpronotal tubercle obsolete; lateral teeth prominent, antero-inferior corners of pronotum conspicuously dentate. Mesonotal scutum flat, with shallow Mayrian furrows; antero-median area between arms of furrows laterally subcarinate, with a weak median longitudinal furrow. Scutellum flat, posteriorly feebly dentate. Basal face of epinotum short, scarcely distinguishable from declivous face, epinotal teeth small or obsolete. Postpetiole relatively shorter and broader, paired tubercles on posterior border more conspicuous. Distribution. - C. morschi occurs on the Atlantic shore from Buenos Aires in the Argentine to southeastern Brazil, from Rio Grande do Sul State to Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State. Specimens examined: Argentina, Buenos Aires: Monte Hermoso (E. Carette) 1 female (holotype of personatus Santschi) (NHMB). - Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul State: Sao Lourenco do Sul (H. v. Jhering) 1 worker (syntype?) (DZSP); Sao Paulo State: Itanhaem (H. Luederwaldt, H. Guedes and F. Grossmann) 10 workers, 1 female (DZSP, WWK), Mongagua (W. W. Kempf) 1 worker (WWK), Boqueirao (W. W. Kempf) 2 workers (WWK), Sao Sebastiao (1. Krebsbach, B. Fleddermann) 5 workers, 2 males (WWK), Caraguatatuba (K. Lenko) 1 worker, 2 females (DZSP); Rio de Janeiro State: Cabo Frio (T. Borgmeier) 1 worker (WWK). Variation. - The worker measurements vary as follows: Total length 2.5-3.0 mm; head length 0.64-0.72 mm; head width 0.52-0.64 mm; thorax length 0.75-0.93 mm; hind femur length 0.61-0.80 mm. Body color variable from light brown to fuscous brown. A small but rather indistinct tooth on clypeus next to the origin of frontal carinae, present in a few larger specimens. Carinules of vertex occasionally very weak. Supraocular tumulus indistinct in smaller specimens. Median pronotal tubercle often weak to obsolete. Anterior pair of mesonotal tubercles sometimes connected by a transverse and semicircular welt. Postero-dorsal laminule of petiolar node vestigial in smaller specimens. Postpetiole usually about as long as broad. Discussion. - Due to the feebly developed, yet complete, antennal scrobe, which is only feebly to vestigially delimited on posterior third of head, this species is quite distinct from all other forms of the genus and resembles somewhat Mycetophylax conformis (Mayr). But in the latter (worker and female), the frontal lobes are short, strongly constricted behind, and do not continue obliquely caudad as distinct carinae (or, if they do, then only as a feeble margination for a very short distance); the preocular carina disappears at the level of the posterior orbit of the eyes. Furthermore, Mycetophylax conformis does not show a distinct antennal scrobe reaching back to the occipital corner. Synonymy. - Santschi's personatus, based on a callow and alate female, was at first erroneously placed in subgenus (now genus) Mycetosoritis. Upon direct comparison of the type with authentic females of morschi, it proved to be a synonym of the latter. Bionomics. - According to H. von Jhering (1894: 385), the nest of C. morschi consists of a cavity in the soil, the small opening at the surface being surrounded by a crater-like well of loosely heaped-up earth crumps. The fungus-garden has the size of a small orange and is made up of mould-covered vegetable debris, as in mcst Attini. So far, this species has been found only at sea level along the Atlantic shore line. On the long beach "Praia Grande", southwest of the city of Santos (Boqueirao, Mongagua, Itanhaem), morschi is seemingly quite common in the sand dunes along the shore, although no intensive collections have yet been made., Published as part of Kempf, W. W., 1964, A revision of the Neotropical fungus-growing ants of the genus Cyphomyrmex Mayr. Part I. Group of strigatus Mayr (Hym., Formicidae)., pp. 1-44 in Studia Entomologica (N. S.) 7 on pages 25-28

12. Cyphomyrmex salvini Forel (Figs. 3, 16, 36, 40) Cyphomyrmex rimosus salvini Forel, 1899: 40, pl. 3, fig. 2 (Female; Panama: Bugaba). - Wheeler. 1907: 724 (Worker, male; Costa Rica: Port Union). - Forel, 1908: 43 (Costa Rica: Isla de Cocos). - Weber, 1940: 412 (Worker, female, male; key). Cyphomyrmex salvini: Weber, 1958: 261 (Worker). Cyphomyrmex acutus Weber, 1940: 409 (Worker; Panama C. Z.: Barro Colorado Island). - Weber, 1941: 107-8 (Bion.). - NOV. SYN. Cyphomyrmex salvini acutus Weber, 1958: 261 (Worker). Type. - A lone dealate female, collected by Champion at Bugaba, Panama, presumably deposited in the British Museum (Natural History); not seen. Types of acutus in the Weber collection (NAW); not seen. Worker. - Total length 3.3-3.8 mm; head length 0.80- 0.93 mm; head width 0.69-0.83 mm; thorax length 1.07-1.28 mm; hind femur length 1.01-1.17 mm. Close to the preceding vorticis, with the following differences: Head (Fig. 3): Frontal lobes somewhat pointed cephalad, nearly straight and strongly diverging laterad, conspicuously rounded caudad. Frontal carinae either reach (as in rimosus) or do not reach (as in vorticis) the occipital lobe. Occiput rather perpendicular than oblique. Funicular segment 1 shorter than II and III combined. Thorax (Fig. 16): Antero-inferior corner of pronotum forming an obtuse angle. Posterior mesonotal tubercles conical, although rather low, but not welt-like. Pair of longitudinal carinae on basal face of epinotum blunt, usually confined to the anterior half; when extending over posterior half then only vestigial. Oblique welt on sides of epinotum usually not well developed. Hind femur shown in Fig. 40. Petiolar node (Fig. 36) more strongly constricted behind, just in front of postpetiolar insertion. Median and lateral impressions in front of posterior border of postpetiole deeper, the paired tubercles, which separate these impressions, stronger. Body hairs conspicuous, squamous, either appressed or recurved as on scapes and ventral borders of head and on legs. Female. - This caste was described by Forel as follows: "Long 3.7 millim. Lobe anterieur des aretes frontales fort grand, plus grand que chez le C. rimosus. Angles posterieurs de la tete prolonges en oreilles recourbees plus longues que chez le C. strigatus, mais bien plus courtes que chez le C. auritus. Le borel median des aretes frontales forme deux aretes qui bordent l'epistome et l'aire frontale en forme de triangle. Chaque ocelle est place sur une elevation; celle des deux lateraux se prolonge en arete arquee vers Tangle posterieur de la tete. Le pronotum' a devant, en haut, de chaque cote une forte dent triangulaire. Le mesonotum a devant, en haut, au milieu, un disque arrondi et borde; au milieu, en arriere de ee disque, deux aretes longitudinal tres obtuses, de cote un large feston. Le proscutellum a un feston de cote. Le scutellum est profondement echancre et bidente. Le metanotum a deux tres petites dents. Les deux noeuds du pedicule rectangulaires, plus larges que longs, le 2me beaucoup plus large. Abdomen tres convexe, a peine subborde, sans trace d'elevations ni de depressions a sa surface. Mat. Microscopiquement rabcteux; finement tuberculeux et rugueux. Tout le corps couvert, comme chez le C. rimosus, i. sp., d'une pubescence espacee, courte, epaisse, brillante et squameuse. D'un brun roussatre ferugineux. Tete et abdomen bruns fonces. - Differe du C. rimosus para ses oreilles et ses aretes beaucoup plus fortes". Male described by Wheeler (1907); see below under championi. Distribution. - So far, salvini is known to occur in Panama and Costa Rica, also on the, oceanic Isla de Cocos, off the west coast of Costa Rica, where it may have been imported (Forel, 1908: 43). Specimens examined: 18 workers, 1 male, as follows: Panama Canal Zone: Barro Colorado Island, date unknown, W. M. Wheeler leg. n. 737, 3 workers (identified as acutus by Weber); same locality, January 1960, W. L. Brown & E. S. McCluskey leg. (M-66) 6 workers (WWK). - Panama: Cerro Campana, 800-950 m, January 17, 1960, G. B. Fairchild and W. L. Brown, Jr. leg. (B-85 and B-95) 5 workers (WWK). - Costa Rica: San Jose, date unknown, H. Schmidt leg. 1 worker (CTB); Port Limon, March 25, 1905, J. C. Paulmier leg. 3 workers, 1 male (MCZ). Discussion. - Although resembling rather closely vorticis, from which it was already differentiated above, salvini presents an even more intimate relationship with rimosus, already shown by the fact that up to recently it had been considered just as a race of the latter. The larger size, the prominent tooth-like occipital corners, the salient supraocular teeth, the conical or spine-like mesonotal projections, the strongly developed ridges and impressions on head, the longer legs are the chief features that separate salvini from rimosus. Attention is called to the fact that only the lone female from Panama, described by Forel (1899), is a type specimen (holotype). The association of the worker caste to this female, proposed by Wheeler (1907), although merely founded upon the similarity of differential characters, seems quite tenable. Wheeler's workers from Port Limon, Costa Rica, both in the Wheeler and Forel collection, bear erroneously type labels. Moreover, the Forel collection, according to Weber (1958), contains another worker specimen lacking a locality label. Weber suspects that this is a syntype. However, inasmuch as Forel, in the original description of salvini, does not mention any worker specimens accompanying the female, it is quite improbable that this is a type. To the contrary, I rather believe that this worker is the specimen from Cocos Island mentioned by Forel in 1908. In a revisionary note, Prof. Weber (1958) raised salvini to full specific category and reduced his own acutus to a subspecies of salvini. While I fully agree with the former step, I have come to the conclusion that acutus is nothing but a straight synonym of salvini. All the specimens coming from the type locality of acutus, i. e. Barro Colorado Island, agree completely with the Port Limon specimens, which are the digms for the worker caste of salvini. Bionomics. - Very little is known of salvini in this regard. So far, no record of the nest structure and fungus garden has been published. Weber's (1941: 107-8) observations refer to stray workers on Barro Colorado Island. One of them carried a piece of substrate in its mandibles. Although this material could not be examined more closely because the ant dropped it while being picked up, it looked like the type of substrate used by the mycelium growers, not by the yeast cultivators. Incidentally, Weber turns this surmise into a condition for the definite separation of salvini from rimosus (a yeast cultivator), which to me looks like asking too much. Fore nobody doubts about the specific distinction among the mycelium growers in spite of the possibility that all or most of them cultivate the same kind of fungus., Published as part of Kempf, W. W., 1966, A revision of the Neotropical fungus-growing ants of the genus Cyphomyrmex Mayr. Part II. Group of rimosus (Spinola) (Hym. Formicidae)., pp. 161-200 in Studia Entomologica (N. S.) 8 on pages 190-192

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