Seven Curculionidae species were sampled in direct association with wild and cultivated vegetable
Amaranthus
spp. at five localities in central South Africa. These weevils fall within the tribes Lixini (
Hypolixus haerens
;
Gasteroclisus cf cuneiformis;
Neocleonus sannio
), Baridini (
Baris cf dodonis;
Baris cf amaranthi;
Baris
sp.), and Ceutorhynchini (
Hypurus
sp.), all of which have different infestation patterns on their hosts. Simultaneous infestation by this weevil complex on
Amaranthus
thus implies large-scale damage to the particular plants. Two additional weevil species were also recorded in the vicinity of amaranth fields, but were not observed feeding on the plants. An established weevil parasitoid,
viz. Entedon
sp. (Eulophidae), was also recorded from amaranth plants.
