noun
- a plant-eating insect related to wasps and bees whose larvae resemble caterpillars and often feed on leaves
Usage: entomology
Examples
- The sawfly larvae stripped all the leaves from the rose bush.
- Gardeners often mistake sawfly larvae for butterfly caterpillars.
- The pine sawfly can cause significant damage to coniferous trees.
- Adult sawflies have four wings and are usually black or brown.
- Sawfly eggs are typically laid in slits cut into plant stems.
- The elm sawfly is a common pest in many urban areas.