Crossword Genius

Creature got beaten with copper (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

locust

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'creature' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'got beaten with copper' is the wordplay.
'got beaten' becomes 'lost' (I've seen this in another clue).
'with' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'copper' becomes 'cu' (chemical symbol).
'lost' enclosing 'cu' is 'LOCUST'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for locust that I've seen before include "Part of destructive plague" , "Voracious grasshopper that travels in swarms" , "Swarming grasshopper" , "Voracious African or Asian grasshopper" , "A deadly grasshopper seen in plagues" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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