Kay et al RSPB-2013-2374 controls for metapleural blocking technique

We used workers sampled from field colonies to show that blocking metapleural glands per se did not affect survivorship. We blocked the metapleural gland on ants (using nail polish). We housed solitary ants and worker groups in 3 cm-diameter Petri dishes with moistened cotton (re-moistened every 2 days) and checked daily for mortality. We removed dead ants, sterilized them (with 1% NaClO), placed them on filter paper, and monitored them for 7 days for signs of Metarhizium infection (characteristic conidia growth that occurs within 2-3 days).