Where do Harvester Ants Live?
Red harvester ants make their homes in open areas and remove all vegetation from that area in a circular pattern so they are relatively easy to spot. Worker ants within the colony may deposit small rocks close to the entrance of the colony which can be as small as one foot in diameter or as wide as four feet and can be anywhere from two to ten inches high. Oftentimes red harvester ants will remove vegetation in an extremely large circle that radiates as far as thirty five feet away from the colony mound. The reason for cleaning their territory is generally unknown although some entomologists believe that it could be to help regulate temperatures within and around the mound while others believe that it has more to do with making it easier to spot intruders and predators around the colony. The worker ants are believed to deposit small rocks or dead leaves around the top of the mound as well in an effort to keep the colony warm.
