Borrowed from 'Author of the Acacia Seeds' by Ursula K. LeGuin

'Up' in ant terminology, is not necessarily a good thing like it is with mammals. Up is exposure to predators, rain, hot sun, loneliness and all the rest of the general chaos of nature. Down is home, community, the nest, food stores, and warmth, so naturally any rebel against ant society, against the queen itself, would prefer 'Up' to 'Down with the Queen!' as their slogan.