Vitsika brevis

M. brevis appears to nest in dead twigs on the surface of the ground in rainforest. It has also been retrieved from leaf litter samples and has been discovered foraging on low vegetation.

Identification
The two species known in this genus are obviously closely related and very similar. The characters that separate them involve a number of measureable features. It is interesting to note that even in the few samples currently available, a simple plot of HW against SI indicates that in producta SI increases with increased HW, while in brevis SI decreases with increased HW.

Antenna terminates in a distinct club of three segments. Funiculus segment 8 relatively short, 1.00–1.25 × longer than broad; funiculus segment 9 relatively long, 1.70–2.00 × longer than funiculus segment 8. Antennal scape relatively shorter, SI 99–111. In profile, anterior face of petiole node more shallowly inclined with respect to the peduncle. . . . . Myrmisaraka brevis

Antenna terminates in a club of four or five segments. Funiculus segment 8 relatively long, 1.55–1.75 × longer than broad; funiculus segment 9 relatively short, 1.00–1.20 × longer than funiculus segment 8. Antennal scape relatively longer, SI 115–129. In profile, anterior face of petiole node more steeply inclined with respect to the peduncle. . . . . Myrmisaraka producta

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  brevis. Myrmisaraka brevis Bolton & Fisher, 2014: 35, figs. 30-32, Map 132 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
(holotype in parentheses). TL 4.6–5.1 (5.0), HL 1.00–1.10 (1.02), HW 0.79–0.92 (0.83), CI 79–85 (81), SL 0.80–0.96 (0.88), SI 99–111 (106), PW 0.58–0.68 (0.62), WL 1.30–1.42 (1.34), MfL 1.02–1.18 (1.10) (20 measured).

Very similar to, and mostly matching the description of, Myrmisaraka producta, but with an obviously 3-segmented antennal club, in which funiculus segment 8 is only 1.00–1.25 times longer than broad, and funiculus segment 9 is relatively elongated, 1.70–2.00 × longer than funiculus segment 8. The antennal scape is relatively shorter in brevis, SI 99–111, than in producta, SI 115–129. In addition, the head capsule of producta averages relatively slightly narrower, CI 75–80, as opposed to CI 79–85 in brevis.

Type Material
Holotype worker (top specimen of three on pin), Madagascar: Prov. Antsiranana, P.N. Marojejy, 27.6 km. 35° NE Andapa, 775 m., 14°26.1’S, 49°45.6’E, 15–18.xi.2003, ex dead twig above ground, rainforest, BLF 9049, CASENT0494587 (Fisher et al.). Paratypes. 2 workers on same pin as holotype; 3 workers with same data as holotype but CASENT0494588; 3 workers with same data as holotype but CASENT0494589 (CASC).