Dauphins regularly used honeybees (4)

I believe the answer is:

apis

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'dauphins regularly used honeybees' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'dauphins regularly used' is the wordplay.
'regularly used' indicates alternate letters (letters selected on a regular basis).
The alternating letters of 'dauphins' are 'APIS'.

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I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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