Emmets (4)
I believe the answer is:
ants
'emmets' is the definition.
('ant' can be a synonym of 'emmet')
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for ants that I've seen before include "Six-foot insects" , "workers found returning" , "Small social insects" , "24 [INSECT] s" , "Inhabitants of a formicary" .)