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How do sawflies use their sawlike ovipositors?
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Hymenoptera
An endangered rusty patched bumblebee (Bombus affinis) browsing on a wild bergamot flower.
In the insect order Hymenoptera, sawflies are distinguished by their specialized ovipositor, which is modified into a sawlike tool. Female sawflies use this organ to cut slits into the leaves or stems of plants, creating a secure site in which to deposit their eggs. Unlike other members of the order, where the ovipositor is typically adapted for stinging or piercing, the sawfly's unique structure is specifically evolved for this plant-cutting function.1