Soldiers, perhaps: GI avoids huge types (4)
I believe the answer is:
ants
'soldiers perhaps' is the definition.
(soldier is a type of ant)
'gi avoids huge types' is the wordplay.
'avoids' is a deletion indicator.
'huge types' becomes 'giants'.
'giants' with 'gi' taken away is 'ANTS'.
(Other definitions for ants that I've seen before include "Soldiers" , "Termites" , "Small social insects" , "They live in a formicary" , "Tiny insects that live in colonies" .)