Vitsika brevis

V. 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
Very similar to, and mostly matching the description of, Vitsika 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.

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.
 * Combination in Vitsika: Fisher & Bolton, 2016: 448.

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).

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).