Macrotrichurus Silverstri 1946

Genus Macrotrichurus Silvestri, 1946 Silvestri, 1946: 11 (original description); Seevers, 1957: 189 (redescription) Redescription Diagnosis. Macrotrichurus can be recognized from other genera in the Subtribe Termitonannina by the following combination of characters: Head prognathous, with elongated maxilla and labial palpi. Ligula acute and prominent or broadly rounded and indistinct, with labial palpi narrow and stout. Antennae moderate to deeply inserted under anterior region of vertex, 10-articled, antennomere 4 very short and transverse. Mentum fused to submentum, anterior margin of mentum slightly emarginate medially and elongated prementum. Abdomen fusiform and slightly physogastric ventrally, tergite IX shaped as a unique piece, narrow and with dense pilosity, slightly emarginate medially. Last tarsomere of hind tarsus conate. Remarks. The genus Macrotrichurus was originally described to include two Brazilian species, primarily distinguished by chaetotaxic characters. Additionally, Silvestri (1946) and Seevers (1957) noted that the unusually elongated prementum and an acute ligula were distinctive features that separated Macrotrichurus from other genera within Termitonannina, particularly Termitonnanus (Seevers 1957). All specimens of M. granzottorum sp. nov. examined here lack the acute ligula, although other characteristics identified by these authors are present.Furthermore, the fourth and fifth tarsomeres of the hind tarsi are separated by a clear line of division a trait that, while notable, requires examination in other genera to determine whether it is a diagnostic feature unique to Macrotrichurus.