The Breadbug (パンモドキ, Pseudo-Bread) is an enemy in every Pikmin game aside from Pikmin 3. This creature resembles a bread roll and is the namesake of the Breadbug family. It holds the Space Float ship part in Pikmin.
The Breadbug does not harm the Pikmin directly, but it can pull away small objects (in Pikmin), or both small and rather large (in Pikmin 2) objects vital to the Pikmin into its dwelling. If Pikmin are holding onto something when the Breadbug pulls it into its nest, the Pikmin will perish. In Pikmin 4, the Breadbug will pull the treasure or carcass into a patch of grass or bury it rather than using a nest. Breadbugs from Pikmin 4 also appear in toy-based caves such as the Plunder Palace located in Hero's Hideaway.
The Breadbug is protected by a large amount of tough blubber, making it immune to swarming. However, they can be harmed minutely if Pikmin is thrown onto them. In Pikmin 2, Breadbugs heal themselves completely when they drag an object into their hole.
A larger version of this enemy, named the Giant Breadbug, appears alongside these enemies in Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 4.
Notes[]
Olimar's Voyage Log[]
"This pesky scavenger is truly annoying. It attempts to steal the spoils that the Pikmin earn in battle. If the Pikmin chase it too far, they can be dragged into its lair along with their food. It may look weak, but its appearance is deceiving."
Reel notes[]
"This creature's thick hide protects it from most attackers."
Olimar's Notes[]
"The adult breadbug competes for many of the same food sources as Pikmin, but its thick-skinned hide allows it to withstand most Pikmin group attacks. However, some researchers claim to have observed breadbugs being overwhelmed by massive numbers of Pikmin and reduced to food."
Louie's Notes[]
"Breadbugs are hearty and nutritious but also bland and unimaginative. They may be palatable in a pinch, but they hold no true culinary promise."
Nintendo Player's Guide[]
"Breadbugs steal treasures and the bodies of downed baddies. If a Breadbug takes a prize into its hole, you'll have to defeat it to make the treasure resurface. You can damage Breadbugs by stomping them or by pulling them toward your ship and having the ship's tractor beam do the work."
Dalmo's Notes[]
“It looks like your breakfast table's longtime staple: a loaf of bread with perfect color and buttery shine. Just from looking at it, I swear the aroma of baking wafts past my nose. But you've never seen your bread loafing about like this. If you observe them for a while, you might catch them dragging things around with their mouths. It's heart-meltingly adorable!”
Battle strategy[]
Pikmin[]
The easiest way to defeat a Breadbug is to wait until it takes hold of an object, then swarm Pikmin onto that object and return it to any Onion. It will bring its health down to an extremely low level, to the point where a single Pikmin thrown on its back will kill it. Do note that the number of Pikmin needed to carry the object back is larger than its normal weight. Strangely, Olimar can damage the Breadbug by hitting it, even though the Pikmin cannot. This is a very slow process though, as its outer armor cushions your punches. One can also repeatedly throw Pikmin onto it to defeat it, but the process will be slow. Note that the Pikmin will drop whatever they are pulling from the Breadbug when a cutscene plays, so it's best to activate the ones related to Blue Pikmin before engaging with the Breadbug.
Pikmin 2[]
In Pikmin 2, these beasts are rare, only appearing on a few sublevels. Here, the same strategy applies, only the object will be carried back to the Research Pod instead. Like in Pikmin, after this, a single Pikmin thrown on its back will fell it. Do note that the number of Pikmin needed to carry the object back is larger than its normal weight, just like before. With the addition of Purple Pikmin, they can easily home on to the Breadbug, possibly earning an easy victory. By using the Ultra-Bitter Spray, the Breadbug can be swarmed. Neither Olimar nor Louie can punch the Breadbug in this game.
Pikmin 4[]
Breadbugs in Pikmin 4 behave almost identically to how they do in the other games. However, once hit directly by a Pikmin, they will now run around in panic, making them harder to stun-lock with Pikmin attacks, so it's a good idea to take out harder enemies first due to the fact that the move can scatter Pikmin and prevents the Breadbug from being defeated quickly.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Breadbug is one of the few enemies to have a figurine modeled after them.
- Its nest is very similar in appearance to the Hermit Crawmad's hole.
- Breadbugs seem to act like cannibals: in Pikmin 2, they will carry other Breadbugs into their nests to presumably eat them.
- When a Breadbug dies, all treasures it took in come out of its nest, and the nest disappears without any trace (aside from things in it).
- Using an Action Replay to access a model test menu in Pikmin, the Breadbug's code name is "collec", because it collects/steals treasures, and its nest is named "hollec", a combination on its code name and "hole".
- Their scientific name, Pansarus gluttonae, means 'splay-footed glutton', "Pan" is also Spanish for bread.
- In Pikmin, if a Breadbug gets stuck, it will burrow into the ground and respawn out of its hole.
- The Breadbug also apparently has a fanbase with over 1001 people.
- In Pikmin 4, they make a strange squeaking sound when walking. This is melody of the Giant Breadbug theme from Pikmin 2.