Vitsika is a Malagasy genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Described in 2014, the genus contains 14 species. The genus Myrmisaraka described in the same publication was synonymized with this genus by Fisher & Bolton in 2016 after molecular data placed its two species, M. brevis and M. producta, nested inside Vitsika.
Description Queens are known for all species except V. obscura. The queens may be alate or ergatoid, or both forms may occur within a single species. It is possible that all species will be found to produce both ergatoids and alates when the species are better represented in collections. Two species (V. manifesta, V. suspicax) exhibit morphological intermediates between alate and ergatoid forms, and two species (V. acclivitas and V. crebra) appear to be polygynous.
Worker-associated males are known for V. crebra, V. breviscapa and V. labes. In addition, the males of three other species, collected in isolation (in Malaise traps), are present in collections. Similar in size to the conspecific worker or slightly smaller.
Species
Vitsika acclivitas Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika astuta Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika brevis (Bolton & Fisher, 2014) Vitsika breviscapa Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika crebra Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika disjuncta Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika incisura Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika labes Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika manifesta Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika miranda Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika obscura Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika procera Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika producta (Bolton & Fisher, 2014) Vitsika suspicax Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika tenuis Bolton & Fisher, 2014 Vitsika venustas Bolton & Fisher, 2014
References