PRELIMINARY RESEARCH ON BIOLOGY OF PURPLE STEM BEETLE,SAGRA FEMORATA PURPVREA LICHTENSTEIN (COLEOPTERA:CHRYSOMELIDAE), A NATURAL ENEMY ON KUDZU

Morphological characteristics and seasonal cycles of purple stem beetle were observed, dynamic of larvae and classifying standard of the beetle feeding on kudzu was also studied. The beetle had one generation each year. The peak of infestation and index of feeding damage occurred in August. A significant correlation was found between gall size (volume) and the number of larvae in the gall (R = 0. 9783, P0. 01).