The breadbug family is a family of creatures in the Pikmin games. The first members of this family were seen in Pikmin, but the actual family was not mentioned or named until Pikmin 2. Along with those listed below, a Vanilla Breadbug is mentioned by Olimar in his notes for the Dwarf Red Bulborb. They have a range of lifestyles depending on the particular species, from scavenging for second-hand kills to actually preying on smaller creatures. It is interesting to note that each member of this family can be defeated or at least damaged by throwing Pikmin onto its back. For some reason, in Pikmin 2, thrown Purple Pikmin will remain attached to small Bulborbs until the enemy's life ends.
Members
Breadbug
- Main article: Breadbug.
Breadbugs, found the first two Pikmin games, are the beasts after which the Breadbug family is named. They are unable to cause harm to Pikmin directly, though one can do so by pulling objects away into its dwelling. If any Pikmin are carrying an object while it is sucked underground in this manner, they will die. The beast is heavy with thick blubber, making it immune to most attacks. They are found much more commonly in Pikmin 2 than in Pikmin.
Dwarf Red Bulborb
- Main article: Dwarf Red Bulborb.
Dwarf Red Bulborbs are small, common enemies in the Pikmin games. They resemble Red Bulborbs in appearance, but with greatly diminished size. These enemies are easily defeated by swarming them, but throwing a Pikmin directly on top of one will lead to an immediate kill. In Pikmin, these were known only to be a separate species from Red Bulborbs, but in Pikmin 2, they were revealed as members of the Breadbug family rather than the Grub-dog family. In the first game, agitating one will make it scream, awakening the nearest Red Bulborb.
Dwarf Orange Bulborb
- Main article: Dwarf Orange Bulborb.
The Dwarf Orange Bulborb is an enemy in Pikmin 2 and "Pikmin 3". It mimics the Orange Bulborb, but, like all other Breadbug family members, it is diurnal, unlike the nocturnal Orange Bulborb. Being as easily agitated as the Bulborb it mimics, it will notice Pikmin at a greater distance than other Dwarf Bulborbs do. It can be very easily defeated by swarming them or by aiming a single Pikmin throw to land on its back.
Giant Breadbug
- Main article: Giant Breadbug.
The Giant Breadbug is a boss in Pikmin 2. Unlike other Breadbugs, this one is large and has a more cubical shape, looking like a whole loaf of bread. It is by far the largest species in the Breadbug family, but at the same time is considered by many players to be the easiest boss in the game; the boss theme music is not even played when this creature is around, though an exclusive tune is played only in the specific cave sublevel. The more recognizable habitat is located on the last sublevel (6) of the Glutton's Kitchen and consists of only two other Breadbugs, electrical wires, and Anode Beetles.
Snow Bulborb
- Main article: Snow Bulborb.
The Snow Bulborb only appears in Pikmin 2. They are another subspecies of Dwarf Bulborb, these particular ones resembling hairless, miniature Hairy Bulborbs. They are as similar to the beast they endeavor to copy as any other Dwarf Bulborb, and defeated in much the same way. Their most common location is in the vicinity of one or more Hairy Bulborbs, or in cave terrain of snow or ice.
Naming
The family is named after the Breadbug, a bug-like enemy that resembles a piece of bread. In the scientific name of members of this family, the word pansarus is a pun, in that pansa is Latin for "splayed-foot", and the creatures' feet are in fact splayed, and panis is Latin for "bread", once again tying in to the Breadbug; パン? is also Japanese for "bread".
Trivia
- Every member of the Breadbug family, excluding the Giant Breadbug, have received a figurine in the real world.
