Sawfly: meaning, definitions and examples

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sawfly

 

[ หˆsษ”หflaษช ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

insect species

A sawfly is a type of insect belonging to the order Hymenoptera, which is closely related to bees and wasps. Unlike true flies, sawflies have a more robust body and typically possess a distinctive saw-like ovipositor (egg-laying structure) that females use to cut into plant tissue to deposit their eggs. Sawflies tend to feed on leaves, making them important herbivores in their ecosystems. Some species are considered pests in agriculture and gardening because their larvae can cause significant damage to crops.

Synonyms

larvae eaters, leaf-eaters

Examples of usage

  • The sawfly larvae are stripping the leaves off my rose bushes.
  • Farmers often use pesticides to control sawfly populations.
  • Sawflies can be identified by their unique shaped eggs.

Translations

Translations of the word "sawfly" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น vespa

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเฅ‰ เคซเฅเคฒเคพเคˆ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Sรคgenfliegen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ serangga pemotong

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะธะปะบะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ piล‚karz

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒŽใ‚ณใ‚ฎใƒชใƒใƒ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท sawfly

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ avispรณn

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท testere sineฤŸi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ†ฑ๋ฒŒ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฐุจุงุจุฉ ุงู„ู…ู†ุดุงุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ pilokvรฉtka

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ pรญlka

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้”ฏ่œ‚

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ ลพaga

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ sagfluga

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐั€ะฐา›าฑะนั€ั‹า›

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒœแƒแƒฎแƒแƒ•แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ sawfly

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ avispa sierra

Etymology

The term 'sawfly' originates from the combined words 'saw' and 'fly.' The 'saw' refers to the female sawfly's ovipositor, which resembles a saw due to its serrated edge, enabling it to cut into plant tissues to lay eggs. This characteristic led to the name in the early 19th century, when entomologists began formally classifying and naming various insect species. The study of sawflies and their role in ecosystems has evolved over the decades, as these insects are integral for understanding plant-insect interactions. The classification of sawflies has also expanded; they are now grouped under the superfamily Tenthredinoidea, encompassing various genera and species that exhibit diverse behaviors and ecological roles.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,091 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.