Crossword Genius

Smack climbing insect (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gnat

'insect' is the definition.
(gnat is a kind of insect)

'smack climbing' is the wordplay.
'smack' becomes 'tang' ('tang' can be a synonym of 'smack').
'climbing' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters climb up).
'tang' backwards is 'GNAT'.

(Other definitions for gnat that I've seen before include "Something that bites" , "mozzie" , "Tiny biting insect" , "insect's" , "Small fly that bites" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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