Wife avoiding insects and snakes (4)

I believe the answer is:

asps

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'snakes' is the definition.
(asp is a kind of snake)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for asps that I've seen before include "because of their venom?" , "native Africans?" , "Poisonous snakes" , "Poisonous creatures" , "Small vipers" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.

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