urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B10647EC-104A-4299-8ACF-D66EA8F7005B

(Figs 119, 122, 125)

Type material. Holotype, female: Ecuador: Tiputini biodiversity station, 220–250 m, October 1998, 00° 37’55’’S, 76° 08’39’’W, T.L. Erwin et al collectors, indv. #000448. Allotype, male: same data as holotype. Paratypes: same data as holotype (3); Napo Prov., Res. Ethnica Waorani, 1km S Onkone Gare Camp., Trans. Et., 00°39’10’’S, 76°26’W, 220m elev., October 1995, T.L. Erwin et al. collectors (2). The holotype and allotype temporarily held in trust at USNM for MECN, two paratypes each deposited in QCAZ and MSUC, and one in ZMBN.

Diagnosis. Interstriae 10 sharply carinate to near apex. Protibiae without additional mesal tooth, tooth 1 larger than tooth 2. Lateral carinae on pronotum anteriorly turned medially. A pair of broad, blunt carinae continue dorsad from epistoma to middle of frons. Related to S. costabilis and S. arcuatus but distinguished from both by the broad carinae in the frons, and further from S. costabilis by the much stouter body shape, and from S. arcuatus by the presence of elytral setae.

Description, female. Length 2.2–2.4 mm, 2.0 × as long as wide; colour dark brown. Head. Eyes slightly emarginate, separated above by 3.3–3.5 × their width. Frons flattened and impressed between eyes from vertex to epistoma, a pair of broad, shiny carinae running dorsad from epistoma to the middle of frons, smooth and micropunctate between; vestiture consisting of long setae along outer margin of impressed area, from vertex to level of antennal insertion, setae curved towards the centre of frons. Antennal club pilose, sutures obscure. Funiculus 6-segmented. Pronotum reticulate, dull, punctures spaced by 1 × their diameter, reaching anterior margin; anterior half with low asperities; lateral carinae anteriorly turned medially before interrupted. Vestiture consisting of 4 long, erect setae (2-0-2). Elytra shiny, smooth; striae more or less regular, not impressed, punctures large, deep, separated by 1–2 × their diameter; interstriae 5–6 × broader than striae, punctures almost as large as strial punctures, entirely confused. Interstriae 10 sharply raised to near apex. Vestiture consisting of 15–30 erect setae of variable length, on odd-numbered interstriae, the majority on 7 and 9. Legs. Procoxae separated by 0.5–0.7 × the width of one procoxa. Mesocoxae separated by 0.7–0.8 × the width of a procoxa. Protibiae narrow, distal teeth 1 larger than 2, with 3–4 additional small spines or transverse rugae towards tibial base; protibial mucro short, blunt, curved laterally. Meso- and metatibiae with 7–8 socketed teeth on distal half. Ventral vestiture. Setae on mesanepisternum trifid or plumose, on metanepisternum simple, on metasternum mixed plumose, bi- or trifid setae, with scattered simple setae.

Male. Similar to female, except frons convex, reticulated, with clusters of two or three contiguous punctures; eyes separated above by 2.9–3.0 × their width.

Key (Wood 2007). Keys to couplet 19, S. costabilis, but differs as noted in the diagnosis.

Etymology. The Latin name validus is a masculine adjective, meaning strong or mighty, referring to stout body shape.

Biology and distribution. Only known from two nearby localities in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Specimens were collected by canopy fogging in the month of October (1995, 1998).