Lin, that is fascinating! I've read about those ants, but I wasn't aware they were in the US. We have leafcutter bees as well as leafcutter predatory solitary wasps. Neither defoliates a plant, but leaves large round holes instead. Leaf bits are used to partition their cells in linear nests in the ground or in wood. Both are useful as pollinators, the predatory wasps being additionally beneficial by preying on destructive pests like caterpillars and grasshoppers, or sometimes aphids for small species. To make this bulb related, both leafcutter bees and wasps visit bulbs from time to time. Wasps for instance have been attracted to some of my alliums for nectar and I've seen photos folks sent to me of various wasps nectaring on Fritillaria. Travis Owen Rogue River, OR http://www.amateuranthecologist.com/ http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/