Variations of the above method include more or less time in alcohol, greater or lower concentration of NaClO, or fewer rinses in water. Due to the hydrophobic nature of insect cuticle, the addition of a surfactant such as Tween 80 to the NaClO may increase effectiveness. Alternative substances including Hyamine and Zephiran chloride are also used for surface sterilization (Martignoni & Milstead, 1960; Wittig, 1963). Surface sterilization of very small insects will kill the entomopathogen inside the host (., whiteflies infected with entomopathogenic fungi). In this case, the removal of spores from the tips of conidiophores (see Glossary in Chapter VI) is accomplished by touching the most distal spores to a minute amount.
