the saw-fly; a genus of insects belonging to the order of hymenoptera. The mouth is furnished with jaws, which are horny, arched, dentated within; the right jaw being obtuse at the apex; the lip cylindrical, trifid; there are four feelers, unequal and filiform; the wings are plain and turned; the sting consists of two serrated laminae, and the scutellum of two grains placed at a distance. Gmelin mentions 143 species. These insects are not very shy. Some, by means of their saw, deposit in the buds of flowers, others on the twigs of trees or shrubs, eggs from which are produced caterpillars. The implement with which they are armed is nowise formidable; as it appears only destined to the purpose of depositing their eggs.