What is a sawfly?
Q: What is a sawfly?
A: A sawfly is an insect in the suborder Symphyta of the order Hymenoptera that largely feeds on plants.
Q: How are sawflies different from other Hymenoptera?
A: Sawflies differ from most other Hymenoptera by their broad connection between the abdomen and the thorax and their caterpillar-like larvae.
Q: Why are they called sawflies?
A: They are called sawflies because of the saw-like appearance of the ovipositor that females use to cut into plants where they lay their eggs.
Q: What is the Tenthredinoidea superfamily?
A: The Tenthredinoidea superfamily is the largest superfamily of sawflies with approximately 7,000 species worldwide belonging to six families.
Q: Can sawflies damage forests and plants?
A: Yes, large populations of certain sawfly species may cause economic damage to forests and cultivated plants.
Q: How many superfamilies of Symphyta are currently treated?
A: As of 2013, Symphyta are treated as nine superfamilies (one extinct) and 25 families.
Q: Which family in Tenthredinoidea is the largest?
A: Tenthredinidae is the largest family in the Tenthredinoidea superfamily with some 5,500 species.
