Small animals in nonconformist groups (7)

I believe the answer is:

insects

'small animals' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'in nonconformist groups' is the wordplay.
'nonconformist groups' becomes 'sects' (I've seen this in another clue).
'in'+'sects'='INSECTS'

(Other definitions for insects that I've seen before include "Considerable class" , "crawlers, perhaps" , "Small animals" , "Six-leggged creatures" , "Bugs" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sun.

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