The
Pergidae are a moderate-sized family of
sawflies occurring in the Western Hemisphere and the Australasian Region. The Pergidae are, with almost 450 described species, the third-largest family of Symphyta after the
Tenthredinidae and the
Argidae. Morphologically, most pergids are typically sawfly-like, but the form of the antennae varies considerably in number of segments and from simple to serrate and pectinate or even bipectinate. Sexual dimorphism is common and reflected in differences in type of antennae, colour, and size. Included are some of the few known
apterous sawflies, those of the genus
Cladomacra occurring in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, and a species with brachypterous females,
Clarissa tasbates, in
Tasmania.