It fits the basic concept of writing, where complex ideas are communicating through time rather than space.
As to using symbols it depends on what you mean by symbols. Though an ants nest is a dark environment so writing the way we think of it via coloration would be a useless. In such an environment pheromones have inherent advantages, but you can’t get the same highly detailed shapes.
Which is why people look into specific elements of language not just huge generalizations.