In this puzzle, each of the overlaps is a seven letter word, which can be formed by combining two of the four-letter parts. The parts are:
- ALAN
- ARCH
- BASS
- CHIN
- DEWY
- EARN
- ERIC
- EVER
- FACT
- GENE
- HENS
- LICH
- MAYO
- MILD
- MONA
- NEST
- NINE
- NOOK
- ORAL
- REST
- SOON
- TORY
And the overlaps are:
- LICHENS (LICH + HENS)
- MAYORAL (MAY0 + ORAL)
- EVEREST (EVER + REST)
- ALANINE (ALAN + NINE)
- MONARCH (MONA + ARCH)
- EARNEST (EARN + NEST)
- MILDEWY (MILD + DEWY)
- CHINOOK (CHIN + NOOK)
- GENERIC (GENE + ERIC)
- FACTORY (FACT + TORY)
- BASSOON (BASS + SOON)
In given order, the overlapping letters from each answer spell out HORN AND NETS. Overlapping these two words gives the answer, HORNETS.