I just made a video of 2.1 Insane with mortars if it helps, almost made it through first night after but I needed more of a meat shield. https://youtu.be/mDv53EpRNYI
yeah I was hesitant to build more workers because I didn't want to run out of food for soldiers but your probably right a few more would have gotten me more food so my soldiers didn't have to run out of combat so much.
I don't know how hard it is to implement but can you make the enemy beetles and creatures also attack the enemy ants, its very annoying to see my ants getting devoured by a tiger beetle on the 2.1 rising tide mission while the enemy ants are just walking right past- it just isn't right.