Sawfly
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:'''''Symphyta''' redirects here. For the [[moth]] [[genus]], see ''[[Symphyta (genus)]].
{{Taxobox
| name = Sawflies
|fossil_range=[[Triassic]] - Recent
| image = Melaleuca sawfly.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
| classis = [[Insect]]a
| ordo = [[Hymenoptera]]
| subordo = '''Symphyta'''
| subdivision_ranks = Superfamilies and families
| subdivision =
Superfamily '''[[Cephoidea]]'''<br>
Family [[Cephidae]] (stem sawflies)<br>
Superfamily '''[[Megalodontoidea]]'''<br>
Family [[Megalodontesidae]]<br>
Family [[Pamphiliidae]] (leaf-rolling & web-spinning sawflies)<br>
Superfamily '''[[Orussoidea]]'''<br>
Family [[Orussidae]] (parasitic wood wasps)<br>
Superfamily '''[[Siricoidea]]'''<br>
Family [[Anaxyelidae]] (cedar wood wasps)<br>
Family [[Siricidae]] (horntails)<br>
Superfamily '''[[Tenthredinoidea]]'''<br>
Family [[Argidae]] (argid sawflies)<br>
Family [[Blasticotomidae]] (fern sawflies)<br>
Family [[Cimbicidae]] (cimbicid sawflies)<br>
Family [[Diprionidae]] (conifer sawflies)<br>
Family [[Pergidae]] (pergid sawflies)<br>
Family [[Tenthredinidae]] (common sawflies)<br>
Superfamily '''[[Xyeloidea]]'''<br>
Family [[Xyelidae]] (xyelid sawflies)<br>
Family [[Xiphydriidae]] (wood wasps)
}}
'''Sawfly''' is the common name for is an [[insect]] in the order [[Hymenoptera]], suborder '''Symphyta'''.
[[Image:Dolerus nitens.jpg|thumb|left|Sawfly [[Ovipositor|ovipositing]]]]
Sawflies are distinguishable from most other Hymenoptera by the broad connection between the [[abdomen]] and the [[thorax]] ''(see image)'', and the caterpillar-like larvae (below). The common name comes from the appearance of the [[ovipositor]], which looks much like the blade of a saw. This ovipositor, which is modified into a "[[stinger|sting]]" in some members of the Apocrita, is not used as a weapon. Females use the ovipositor to cut into plants where they lay their eggs. A few species have long thin ovipositors used to drill holes deep into wood. Large populations can cause economic damage in cultivated areas and forests.
==Taxonomy==
Sawflies are a group of largely phytophagous ([[Herbivore|herbivorous]]) insects. The overall group is [[Paraphyly|paraphyletic]], but the name is still in common use, and treated as a suborder, though it seems likely it will be phased out in future classifications. These superfamilies are regarded as the most primitive taxa within the Hymenoptera (some going back 200 million years), and one of the taxa within the Symphyta gave rise to the suborder [[Apocrita]] ([[wasp]]s, [[bee]]s and [[ant]]s - this group is considered [[monophyletic]]). In the opinion of many experts, the most likely [[sister taxon]] to the Apocrita is the family [[Orussidae]], the only Symphytan group which is [[parasitoid|parasitic]].
==Larvae==
[[Image:Tenthredo marginella01.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Sawfly (''[[Tenthredo marginella]]'') larva]]
The larvae look like [[caterpillar]]s (the larvae of moths and butterflies), with two notable exceptions; (1) they have six or more pairs of [[proleg]]s on the [[abdomen]] (caterpillars have five or fewer), and (2) they have two [[stemma]]ta instead of a caterpillar's six. Typical sawfly larvae are [[herbivorous]], the group feeding on a wide range of plants. Individual species, however, are often quite specific in their choice of plants used for food. The larvae of various species exhibit [[leaf miner|leaf-mining]], leaf "rolling", or [[gall]] formation. Three families are strictly [[xylophagy|xylophagous]], and called "[[wood wasp]]s", and one family is parasitic. The larvae that do not feed externally on plants are grub-like, without prolegs.
==Adults==
Adult sawflies, except for those in the family [[Cephidae]], have structures that latch onto the underside of the forewings to help hold the wings in place when the insect is at rest. These "[[cenchrus (insect)|cenchri]]", which are absent in the suborder Apocrita, are located behind the [[scutellum]] on the thorax. Adults of some species are carnivorous, eating other insects, but many also feed on nectar.
==References==
<references />
* [http://research.amnh.org/entomology/social_insects/training/hymintro.html The American Museum of Natural History] 2004-01-15
* [http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk Kendall Bioresearch Services] (Image)
==External links==
*[http://www.zalf.de/home_zalf/institute/dei/php_e/ecatsym/ ECatSym - Electronic World Catalog of Symphyta]
*[http://www.cirrusimage.com/hymenoptera_sawfly_yellow.htm Sawfly - Tenthredininae subfamily - diagnostic photographs and information]
*[http://www.cirrusimage.com/bees_wasps_sawfly_Dolerus_unicolor.htm Sawfly - ''Dolerus unicolor'' photos and information]
*[http://www.cirrusimage.com/bees_wasps_sawfly_Dolerus%20nitens.htm Sawfly - ''Dolerus nitens'' photographs]
*[http://www.cirrusimage.com/hymenoptera_sawfly_Arge_humeralis.htm Sawfly ''Arge humeralis'' photographs]
*[http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-1527:1 ''A sawfly injurious to young pines''] hosted by the [http://digital.library.unt.edu/browse/department/govdocs/ UNT Government Documents Department]
[[Category:Sawflies| ]]
[[Category:Hymenoptera]]
[[ca:Símfit]]
[[de:Pflanzenwespen]]
[[et:Pidevkehalised]]
[[es:Symphyta]]
[[fr:Symphyta]]
[[ko:잎벌아목]]
[[it:Symphyta]]
[[hu:Növényevő darazsak]]
[[ja:ハバチ亜目]]
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