Crossword Genius

Before long, insect bites hotel resident (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

inhabitant

'resident' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'before long insect bites hotel' is the wordplay.
'before long' becomes 'in a bit' (I've seen this in another clue).
'insect' becomes 'ant' (ant is a kind of insect).
'bites' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet).
'inabit'+'ant'='inabitant'
'inabitant' going around 'h' is 'INHABITANT'.

(Other definitions for inhabitant that I've seen before include "One living in a place" , "One occupying a place" , "One who stays in" , "Resident" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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