This is a common sight around the Basin and Range region. After a quick bit of research the following is a paraphrase of what I found. Harvester ants strip the ground of vegetation, then build their mounds in the center of the stripped area, creating vegetation free circles. Some of the seeds that the ants like to harvest have attractive glands that ants seek out. The ants then take these seeds into their chambers where they remove the glands. They then discard the seeds outside of their dens typically placing them in their “garbage dumps,” resulting in these flower rings. I would love to learn more about this, as I am fascinated with both ants and monkey flowers. I would appreciate any insight and corrections on what we researched and posted here. Thanks in advance! #inquiringmindswanttoknow #monkeyflower #ants #anthills #mimulus #forthesakeofknowledge #askascientist #plantid https://www.instagram.com/p/By387dRB54r/?igshid=ijwtrj8n7ry9
