Its true they bite. I have one sunflower in my front yard with ants raising a small colony of webbed in egg/ larvae on the bottom side of two of the leaves. Wearing gloves I turn over a leave to look more closely to the tune of the 'guard' ant coming to the glove and trying to fend me off by biting, and biting. It worked on you didn't it? Its cause you are in its lair where they are protecting the growing antlings. Be fully covered and brush off after, if you walk between your sunflowers. Or find out how to get rid of them. ... View related article.
