Kept watch over pod containing parasites (7)
I believe the answer is:
policed
'kept watch' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with social activities as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'pod containing parasites' is the wordplay.
'containing' is an insertion indicator.
'parasites' becomes 'lice' (lice are parasitic insects).
'pod' enclosing 'lice' is 'POLICED'.
'over' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for policed that I've seen before include "Patrolled" , "maintained order" , "Used law-enforcement methods" .)