Vernonia amygdalina Delile in Yaoundé, Cameroon, known as a bitter leaf, is a perennial shrub from the Asteraceae family, widely distributed across tropical Africa. It is considered one of the most extensively used medicinal plants within the Vernonia genus. The leaves of this plant suffer significant damage due to insect pests. In Cameroon, a newly identified species from the Hilda genus (Tettigometridae), Hilda cameroonensis Tamesse & Dongmo, was recently documented for the first time on V. amygdalina. This pest causes the leaves to shrivel. The objective of this study was to analyze the population dynamics of H. cameroonensis about its host plant, V. amygdalina. Both abiotic and biotic factors influencing the natural fluctuations of pest populations were examined. A study on the population dynamics of this insect was carried out on a natural farm in the Yaoundé region between November 2014 and October 2016. Weekly surveys were conducted to monitor and count eggs, larvae, and adult insects. Throughout the research, seven generations of H. cameroonensis were observed in the first year, while six generations were recorded in the second. Climatic conditions, particularly temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, and wind speed, were found to influence pest population fluctuations. The key factors driving changes in pest numbers and the seasonal emergence of each developmental stage in the Yaoundé region will be considered for future integrated pest management strategies.
