Crossword Genius

Flycatcher’s charge, we hear: insect being picked up (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

phoebe

'flycatcher's' is the definition.
(phoebe is a kind of flycatcher)

'charge we hear insect being picked up' is the wordplay.
'charge' becomes 'pho' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'we hear' becomes 'e' (I've seen this in other clues).
'insect' becomes 'bee' (bee is a kind of insect).
'being picked up' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'bee' sounds like 'be'.
'pho'+'e'+'be'='PHOEBE'

(Other definitions for phoebe that I've seen before include "Old poetic name for moon, and satellite of Saturn" , "who feeds on the wing and fly?" , "Daughter of Uranus and Gaia" , "flycatcher" , ""moony" woman" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app