Medicinal insects used in Côte d’Ivoire: a field survey in Central and Northeastern provinces

Background: In Côte d’Ivoire, insects hold a crucial role not only in culinary practices but also as vital components in traditional medicinal treatments, a facet often neglected in current research. This study aims to document the insects used in therapeutic practices and evaluate the present utilization of entomotherapy in three distinct district capitals of Côte d’Ivoire: Bondoukou, Bouaké, and Daloa. Methods: An ethno-entomological survey was conducted in 2022 among 612 informants from four ethnic groups across Central and North-Eastern Côte d’Ivoire. Data collection was performed using a participatory approach with a structured questionnaire addressing sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge about insects used in traditional medicine. Results: Only 14 % (n = 87) of participants were aware of the medicinal use of insects, with 48 % (n = 42) having personally used them. In total, 10 medicinal insects (103 URs) from six orders and eight families, were used in infusion (43.1 %), crushed (21 %), or in their natural state (29.4 %), often in combination with plants or other local resources, for the treatment of 16 different ailments. Administration routes included anal (38.9 %), cutaneous (28.4 %), oral (18.9 %) and auricular (13.7 %). Conclusions: This study highlights the significant role of insects in traditional medicine in Côte d’Ivoire, identifying 10 medicinal insects used for 16 ailments. Further research is essential to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these remedies, contributing to the preservation and promotion of this traditional knowledge within a broader anthropological and ecological context. Keywords: Traditional medicine, Africa, Entomology, Field survey, Therapeutic insects, Ethnomedecine