Mysterious Pupa Still Baffles Kumbo Farmers

In the past, the appearance of the pupa was attributed to witchcraft. Traditional leaders in the neighborhoods would come out at night and perform some incantations rebuking the pest, and then pray to the gods of the land to come to their assistance. Early the following morning, a great population of birds would descend on the pests and eat them up. 
By Marius Mbimenyuy
The small black pupa metamorphoses into a green and black streamlined body of a mature locust. 
It is common in Kumbo, Bui Division, and attacks plants.
Farmers told The Green Vision that initially the pupa settles on green plants then begins to consume the leaves. 
Early this year, it destroyed plants such as kola nut trees, Prunus africana, bananas, beans, bitter leaf and pear (avocado).
The strange insect has reportedly been appearing every planting season in Kumbo; during March when crops shoot sending out primary leaves. 
Experts say the insect known in Lamso as Ntemntem seems to be absent in other parts of the North West Region. 
According to the farmers, the Ntemntem starts developing as a small black pupa and grows into a green and black locust. Its primary host where it gets its nutrients is the red kola nut tree leaves. After this it migrates to other plants such as pear leaves, Prunus africana, banana leaves.
A villager in Meluf, Mah Emma, said the insect damages crops since it feeds on the shoots of growing plants. 
She said experts are yet to find a remedy to check the insect. 
Some farmers have been spraying some chemicals on the pest to no avail. 
During hot weather, the insects come out in their numbers to seek shelter in people’s homes and sometimes residents in poorly roofed homes find the pest in uncovered food. 
According to Emma, the famers still appeal to their ancestors to come to their aid.