sawfly

Any of numerous hymenopteran insects of the suborder Symphyta, the females of which have sawlike ovipositors used for cutting into plant tissue to deposit their eggs, and the plant-feeding larvae of which sometimes damage crops and trees.

An American saw-fly, Schizocerus privatus, whose larvæ live on sweet-potato leaves.

A hymenopterous insect of the family Tenthredinidæ, so called from the peculiar construction of the ovipositor (saw or terebra), with which they cut or pierce plants. Two plates of this instrument have serrate or toothed edges.

Any one of numerous species of hymenopterous insects belonging to the family Tenthredinidæ. The female usually has an ovipositor containing a pair of sawlike organs with which she makes incisions in the leaves or stems of plants in which to lay the eggs. The larvæ resemble those of Lepidoptera.

Any of various flying insects of the suborder Symphyta whose ovipositor is long and often serrated and is used to cut into plants to lay eggs.

insect whose female has a saw-like ovipositor for inserting eggs into the leaf or stem tissue of a host plant