Indigenous utilization of wasp nests by selected people of Lagos and Ogun states southwest Nigeria: an insight into untapped wild insect earth

Abstract

The use of clay from termite nests (TNs) for therapeutic, agricultural and spiritual purposes is known. However, knowledge of indigenous utilization of wasp nests (WNs) that shared similar physical characteristics with TNs has received little or no documentation in Nigeria. Face-to-face and phone interview were used to collect data on cultural, religion, agricultural and medicinal potentials of WNs from selected herbal vendors, trado-medicals and other knowledgeable users in southwest Nigeria using purposive, convenient and snowball sampling techniques. Data were analyzed descriptively with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that the respondents collected urban wild WNs mostly for spiritual (to seek protection and prosperity), cultural (in clay work) and medicinal (as anti-inflammatory, whooping cough, anti-rheumatism and analgesic medicines). Thus suggesting their significance for indigenous utilization, for which they all shared the same methods of preparation for its usage. There was however no report on the use of WNs for agricultural purpose. It is therefore evident from the survey that WNs have cultural, therapeutic, magical and mystical values for the south western people of Nigeria.