Wait, we've got 12 hobbets? In that case we outnumber them 2:1 in both cases. I don't recall the specifics of the previous battle (I have a horrible memory) but I would assume the beetles can still use their tahini in melee? In that case, the only advantage to retreating would be to prevent the bee...
OOC: Thanks, I have now kludged the map to help "fix" it, I didn't attempt to try re-drawing the entire area because I'm not sure exactly which rooms are off and which are not. Since we're now in Room 18, let's try another one of the exits out. I'd suggest the corridor on our left heading...