sawfly

noun

saw·​fly ˈsȯ-ˌflī 

: any of numerous hymenopterous insects (superfamily Tenthredinoidea and especially family Tenthredinidae) with the female usually having a sawlike ovipositor and with the larva resembling a plant-feeding caterpillar

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

While imaging a fossilized sawfly, Dr. Frese discovered a clump of pollen on the bee-like insect’s head. —New York Times, 7 Jan. 2022

And this pungent tune helps keep Hoplocampa testudinea, the European apple sawfly, from being eaten. —Karen Hopkin, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2021

It’s the larva (youngster) of a sawfly (see above). —oregonlive, 14 June 2020

Concerned residents have sent lots of photos of yellow jackets, bumblebees, Elm sawflies and other yellow and black insects. —David Williams, CNN, 27 May 2020

Adult sawflies emerge in May and June (first generation) and late July and August (second generation). —oregonlive, 10 May 2020

On the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, a scale of relative agony caused by sawflies, wasps, bees and ants, the sweat bee comes in at the lowest level of pain. —oregonlive, 10 Apr. 2019

Legions of professional entomologists fret about sawflies, ambrosia beetles, scale insects and leafhoppers. —Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2019

Leaf miners are the larvae of various beetles, flies, moths, and sawflies. —oregonlive.com, 7 June 2019

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Word History

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sawfly

noun

saw·​fly -ˌflī 

: any of numerous insects related to the wasps and bees in which the female has a serrated organ used to cut holes in plants where she lays eggs