Empire of the Ants – Complete Collectibles Guide

100% Collectibles Locations

By Recalcitrant.

This guide has story spoilers! It’s best to play through the game first and use this guide later for collecting items you missed.

What’s covered:

• All collectible items in each mission.
• Quick mention of missions that don’t have collectibles.
• Locations of Golden Tortoise Beetles (with pictures).
• Other collectibles and scans (no pictures needed as they’re easy to find on the main path or required to finish missions).

Chapter 1: Bel-o-kan

Main Hub Area:

3 total items to find. No butterflies or beetles here.

• 1 Scan: Pinecone.
• 2 Memory Pheromones.

First Hunt Mission:

5 total items.

• 2 Scans: Huge Sphere and Pear.
• 1 Butterfly.
• 1 Memory Pheromone.
• 1 Golden Beetle.

The camera is pointing to where 103,683 starts.

First Outpost Mission:

• Just 1 Golden Beetle to find.

The camera shows where players start the game. There’s a branch positioned over some water. Players can get to the branch in two ways – either jump up to reach it, or climb down to it from above.

Fortification Mission:

• Just 1 Golden Beetle to find.

Note: The “Intrusion” mission has nothing to collect.

Chapter 2: Ta-yu-kan

Main Hub Area:

5 total items.

• 1 Scan: Translucent Structure
• 1 Butterfly
• 2 Memory Pheromones
• 1 Golden Beetle

The Flood Mission:

3 total items.

• 1 Scan: Round Black Structure
• 1 Butterfly
• 1 Golden Beetle

The camera points to the Scan area. Be careful – there’s a Beetle near the exit. Don’t walk too far or you’ll trigger the mission end.

Lost Sisters Mission:

• Just 1 Golden Beetle

Don’t rescue any sisters yet – this will prevent the timer from starting. The Beetle is sitting on a mushroom underneath the mission’s highest point (you can spot it by the white rock). The camera is pointing at a rock that’s shaped like a square.

Behind Enemy Lines:

4 total items.

• 3 Scans:
  • Acorns
  • Huge Skull Cavern
  • Weird Branch
• 1 Golden Beetle

Stockpiling Mission:

• Just 1 Golden Beetle

Snailing Out of Here:

• Just 1 Golden Beetle

The camera shows where players start. Keep track of where the nests and snail are located.

Buying Time:

• Just 1 Golden Beetle

Second Hunt:

3 total items.

• 2 Scans:
  • Carved Metal Circle
  • Walnut
• 1 Golden Beetle

From the start, move straight ahead. The camera is pointing at a leaf that’s at the bottom of the starting hole.

Holding the Line:

• Just 1 Butterfly

Note: Three missions have no collectibles:

• A Way Out
• Foothold
• Flanking

Chapter 3: Niziu-ni-kan

Main Hub Area:

4 total items.

• 1 Scan: Metal Semi-Circle
• 2 Memory Pheromones
• 1 Golden Beetle

You’ll find this next to the memory pheromone. Talk to the ant on the right side to start the “Before the storm” mission.

Third Hunt:

2 total items.

• 1 Butterfly
• 1 Golden Beetle

Note: There’s a Metal Circle you can scan here, but it counts for the “Stealing” mission instead.

Stealing Mission:

• 1 Scan: Metal Circle

Note: If you can’t scan it here, try scanning it in “Third Hunt” – same map.

Cut the Head:

2 total items.

• 1 Butterfly
• 1 Golden Beetle

Camera is pointed at player HQ.

Before the Storm:

• Just 1 Golden Beetle

Nowhere to Run:

• Just 1 Golden Beetle

The camera shows where players start. Watch out – there’s a Beetle hanging on a branch attached to the ceiling.

Note: Two missions have no collectibles:

• Steadfast
• Rich Food

Chapter 4: Chli-pou-kan

Main Hub Area:

6 total items.

• 1 Scan: Solid Cavern
• 4 Memory Pheromones
• 1 Golden Beetle

End of the World:

8 total items.

• 7 Memory Pheromones
• 1 Golden Beetle

The camera points at the tunnel where you exit into the mission. Be careful – there’s a Beetle near the level’s end. Make sure you catch the Beetle before going too close to the End Of The World, or you’ll trigger the mission ending.

Fourth Hunt:

3 total items.

• 2 Scans:
  • Skull Cavern
  • Metal And Wood Structure
• 1 Golden Beetle

From the start, move ahead into the main hole.

You’ll find a pit filled with water and leaves. Stay close to the right wall and take the middle path.

After you cross, look up. You’ll notice a leaf that curves up toward a hole in the wall.

Stand on this leaf to get a better view of the hole above. When you feel ready, jump toward the hole.

Inside the hole, you’ll find a beetle sitting on a leaf. (This is the same leaf you could see from your previous position).

Spoils of War:

2 total items.

• 1 Butterfly
• 1 Golden Beetle

Supply Lines:

• Just 1 Golden Beetle

Note: Three missions have no collectibles:

• Battle of the Pinecones
• Battle of the Arch
• A City Under Attack

Chapter 5: Bel-o-kan

Main Hub Area:

5 total items.

• 1 Scan: Unknown Wooden Object
• 3 Memory Pheromones
• 1 Butterfly

A Frightening Ally:

• Just 1 Golden Beetle

All Along the Cypress Roots:

2 total items.

• 1 Butterfly
• 1 Golden Beetle

Killing to Unite:

• Just 1 Golden Beetle

Bel-o-kan’s Catacombs:

• 2 Scans:
  • Corpses
  • Unusually Cut Stone

Isolation:

• 3 Scans:
  • Manure Pile
  • Unknown Yellow Wooden Object
  • Unknown Black And White Wooden Object

Note: Two missions have no collectibles:

• Close Quarters
• Too Close!