Likely ID: an indigenous pest weevil (Ellimenistes laesicollis)
Identifications: 1
Agreements: 0
Comments: 6
Description: This critter I know well! When we lived in Bellville, and now in Bergvleit, this beast determines which species will live and which will fail. Only 3-5mm long, it climbs up the stalks, hiding on the stem - cunningly staying on the side opposite from one. From there it chews off the stalks of leaves, I dont know if "maliciously' or if accidentally while eating the stalk. They mate up on the tops of the stalks as well. Only species with hairy stalks and large bracts seem to survive this goggo predictably. Others obviously have poisons and are not easy to predict.