Considering their overwhelming numbers, the ants’ chosen address is positive – if a little ambiguous.
As we saw in the film Mars Attacks, it is not always clear when first communicating with a highly organised race what their intentions really are.
Indeed, considering the atrocities we have inflicted on ants – including having young boys burning them with magnifying glasses – we should be a little on the cautious side.
Maybe stick to returning the abbreviated salutation waiting for their next move.