sawfly
noun
any of numerous hymenopterous insects of the family Tenthredinidae, the female of which has a sawlike ovipositor for inserting the eggs in the tissues of a host plant.
sawflies
-
pluralof sawfly.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Eiseman is working on a guide to the larvae of sawflies — the most primitive group of Hymenoptera, the relatives of ants, bees and wasps.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 2, 2022
The tiny creatures that excavate a leaf’s epidermal layers to feed themselves are larvae from some 50 families of moths, flies, beetles and sawflies.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 2, 2022
Songbirds, snow geese, otters, herons, pelicans, snakes, mink, raccoon, northern leopard frogs, sawflies, and trumpeter swans, to start.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2018
In some Canadian forests a virus that affects pine sawflies has proved so effective in control that it has replaced insecticides.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
The wing sounds of approaching parasitic flies warn the larvae of some sawflies to herd together for protection.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
