Their quarters are combed for food (4)

I believe the answer is:

bees

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'their quarters are combed for food' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'their quarters' is the wordplay.
'their' becomes 'be' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'quarters' becomes 'es'.
'be'+'es'='BEES'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for bees that I've seen before include "spelling contests" , "Busy insects" , "Honeymakers" , "Social workers?" , "Honey makers" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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