Male worker criticises mischievous females (8)

I believe the answer is:

mantraps

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'mischievous females' is the definition.
'mantraps' can be an answer for 'females' (mantrap is a kind of female). I'm unsure of the 'mischievous' bit.

'male worker criticises' is the wordplay.
'male' becomes 'm' (common abbreviation).
'worker' becomes 'ant' (worker is a type of ant).
'criticises' becomes 'raps'.
'm'+'ant'+'raps'='MANTRAPS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for mantraps that I've seen is " Could be pitfalls".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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