Table 7 Invertebrates used by traditional healers and households in Plateau Department for magical purposes (N = 84)
Roles | Scientific name of invertebrates | Uses | Sociolinguistic groups | Fidelity level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Protection against bad evil spirits | Achatina achatina | Make scarification on the skin and pass the powder combined with some plants on | Nago | 4.3 |
Apis mellifera | 4.3 | |||
Callinectes amnicola | 4.3 | |||
Eudrilus eugeniae | 13.1 | |||
Musca domestica | 4.3 | |||
Oecophylla longinoda | 4.3 | |||
Tachypodoiulus niger | 17.4 | |||
Salticus spp. | 4.3 | |||
Acraea serena | Reduce to powder, then mix with palm kernel oil and pass the mixture over the body | 4.3 | ||
Limnephilus sp. | Drink the decoction mixed with some plants | 4.3 | ||
Macrotermes bellicosus | 4.3 | |||
Odontomachus troglodytes | 4.3 | |||
Pandinus imperator | Reduce to powder and drink with cornmeal | 8.7 | ||
Periplaneta americana | 4.3 | |||
Aedes aegypti | Reduce to powder and consume with cooked pumpkin seeds | Mahi, Nago | 13.1 | |
Bewitchment | Achatina achatina | Make scarification on the skin and pass the powder combined with some plants on | Nago | 11.1 |
Apis mellifera | 11.1 | |||
Tachypodoiulus niger | 11.1 | |||
Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa | Drink the decoction mixed with some plants | 11.1 | ||
Eudrilus eugeniae | Reduce to powder and put the powder on the feet | 11.1 | ||
Salticus spp. | Reduce to powder and lap up | Holli | 22.2 | |
Oecophylla longinoda | Grind and mix with soap to wash | Mahi | 22.2 | |
Attract customers or any other person | Musca domestica | Reduce to powder and mix with local soap to wash | Mahi, Nago | 50.0 |
Acraea serena | Nago | 25.0 | ||
Phaneroptera nana sparsa | Nago | 12.5 | ||
Penaeus spp. | Reduce to powder and consume | Nago | 12.5 | |
To have good luck | Apis mellifera | Reduce to powder and mix with alcohol or honey, then consume | Ouémègbé, Nago | 28.6 |
Macrotermes bellicosus | Nago | 14.3 | ||
Musca domestica | Reduce to powder and put the powder on 3 scarification made in the chest and behind both hands. | Nago | 28.6 | |
Aedes aegypti | Reduce to powder and mix with soap to wash on Monday and Thursday | Ouémègbé | 7.1 | |
Achatina achatina | Cook and consume with some plants | Nago | 7.1 | |
Eudrilus eugeniae | Reduce to powder and mix with soap to wash | Tori | 7.1 | |
To create problems for someone | Macrotermes bellicosus | Reduce to powder and mix with Indian hemp and palm oil. Use the mixture in a ritual with incantatory words | 33.3 | |
Scarabaeus nitens | Reduce to powder and used with incantatory words | Nago | 33.3 | |
Belonogaster juncea | Reduce to powder and mix with soap to wash | Nago | 33.3 | |
Purification | Achatina achatina | Reduce to powder with some plants and consume | Tori, Nago | 100.0 |
Find a job | Tachypodoiulus niger | Reduce to powder with some plants and mix with soap to wash | Nago | 33.3 |
Acraea serena | Holli | 33.3 | ||
Pachycondyla tarsata | Reduce to powder and put in a perfume. Can also be passed over the eyelids as makeup | Holli | 33.3 | |
Love charm | Eudrilus eugeniae | Reduce to powder and put in a perfume. | Nago | 50.0 |
Musca domestica | 50.0 | |||
Make a child speak who has difficulty speaking | Brachytrupes membranaceus | Mix in palm oil and consume | Nago | 50.0 |
Belonogaster juncea | 50.0 | |||
Protection against accidents | Pandinus imperator | Mix with some plants and consume | Mahi | 100.0 |
Protection against thieves | Scarabaeus nitens | Reduce to powder and put on scarification on the back and chest | Ouémègbé | 100.0 |
Use by hunters to reach animals | Apis mellifera | Reduce to powder and put the powder in the barrel of the rifle | Nago | 100.0 |