The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word *BEETLE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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B
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Insect/Insect" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case insect/insect = *beetle.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does *BEETLE mean?
*BEETLE noun- A small car, the Volkswagen Beetle (original version made 1938–2003, similar models made 1997–2010 and since 2011)
- Any of numerous species of insect in the order Coleoptera characterized by a pair of hard, shell-like front wings which cover and protect a pair of rear wings when at rest.
- A game of chance in which players attempt to complete a drawing of a beetle, different dice rolls allowing them to add the various body parts.
- To move away quickly, to scurry away.
- To loom over; to extend or jut.
- Protruding, jutting, overhanging. (As in beetle brows.)
- A type of mallet with a large wooden head, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, etc.
- A machine in which fabrics are subjected to a hammering process while passing over rollers, as in cotton mills; a beetling machine.
- To beat with a heavy mallet.
- To finish by subjecting to a hammering process in a beetle or beetling machine.