pistiäisiä

Pistiäisiä, commonly known as sawflies, are an order of insects belonging to the Hymenoptera, the same order as bees and wasps. Despite their common name, they do not have a true sting. Instead, female sawflies possess a serrated, saw-like ovipositor at the end of their abdomen, which they use to insert their eggs into plant tissues. This ovipositor gives them their characteristic name.

Sawflies are a diverse group, with thousands of described species found worldwide. Their life cycles typically involve four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larval stage is often the most conspicuous, with many sawfly larvae resembling caterpillars, though they can be distinguished by having more than five pairs of prolegs. These larvae are often herbivorous and can sometimes be significant pests in agriculture and forestry due to their voracious appetites for leaves.

Adult sawflies vary in appearance, but many are robust and stout-bodied. They do not typically feed on nectar like many bees and wasps, and their diet is often limited. Reproduction is sexual, and while most species are bisexual, some have populations that are entirely parthenogenetic, meaning females can reproduce without males. Their ecological roles are varied, with some acting as herbivores and others as predators or parasitoids of other insects.