So when you start a new Formicarium, you get 40 territory to dig. If you highlight the two tiles south of your queen to get to the food, you will open a 2x1 chamber filled with food, at the cost of 2 territory. You are left with 38. However, if you highlight 4 tiles down instead of just two, you are cheated out of 2 territory. Your ants will dig two, open the chamber of 2, and you are left with 36 territory.