Creatures eaten by giant spiders (4)

I believe the answer is:

ants

'creatures' is the definition.
(ant is a kind of creature)

'eaten by giant spiders' is the wordplay.
'eaten by' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'ANTS' is hidden in the letters of 'giant spiders'.

(Other definitions for ants that I've seen before include "Tiny insects that live in colonies" , "Inhabitants of a formicary" , "Soldiers" , "24 [INSECT] s" , "Termites" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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