Bug Catcher (Trainer class)

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If you were looking for the "Bug Catcher Pokémon" species, see Carnivine (Pokémon).
Bug Catcher
むしとりしょうねん Bug Catcher Boy
ORAS Bug Catcher.png
Art from Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Other names Bug Boy (Stadium)
Introduced in Generation I
Appears in Red, Blue, and Yellow
Gold, Silver, and Crystal
Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Stadium, Stadium 2
Gender Male
Counterpart {{{counterpart}}}
Notable members Samurai
Anime debut EP004|Challenge of the Samurai
TCG debut [[(TCG)|]]
TCG card {{{card}}}
Manga debut A Glimpse of the Glow (Adventures)

A Bug Catcher (Japanese: むしとりしょうねん Bug Catcher Boy) is a type of Pokémon Trainer that first debuted in the Generation I games. They are generally depicted as little boys in hats, carrying nets and what appears to be their lunchboxes, or containers to keep caught bugs in, held by a strap after Generation II. Most Bug Catchers have been considered just hobbyists. Some Bug Catchers move around areas, and don't always stay in the same place each day. Experienced Bug Catchers may become Bug Maniacs.

Bug Catchers are usually one of the first Trainer classes encountered during the course of the games' storylines, mostly appearing on earlier routes. In Generation I, Bug Catchers are the first Trainer class that the player encounters. They first appear in Viridian Forest, while the last one is on Route 9. In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Bug Catchers appear again on the Sevii Islands, in the Pattern Bush. In Generation II, Bug Catchers appear on Route 30, but they are not the first Trainer class seen in the game, and are actually more uncommon in this Generation than any other in which they appear. In Generation III, there are a few Bug Catchers, appearing between Route 102, through Route 119. The number of Bug Catchers in Generation III surpasses each other generation except the first. In Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Bug Catchers don't appear until Route 204, after the player defeats the first Gym Leader, which is unusually late in the game. There are only four Bug Catchers, most of them appearing in the Eterna Forest. There are no Bug Catchers in the Unova and Kalos regions.

In Pokémon Stadium, they are referred to as Bug Boys.

Appearance

Spr RG Bug Catcher.png Spr Y Bug Catcher.png Spr GS Bug Catcher.png Spr RS Bug Catcher.png Spr FRLG Bug Catcher.png Spr DP Bug Catcher.png Spr HGSS Bug Catcher.png VSBug Catcher.png
Sprite from
Red and Blue
Sprite from
Yellow
Sprite from
Generation II
Sprite from
Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald
Sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen
Sprite from
Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum
Sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
VS sprite from
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Psychic I OD.png Bug Catcher II OD.png Bug Catcher RSE OD.png Bug Catcher FRLG OD.png Bug Catcher IV OD.png SJP Bug Catcher.png S2 Bug Catcher.png
Overworld sprite from
Generation I
Overworld sprite from
Generation II
Overworld sprite from
Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald
Overworld sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen
Overworld sprite from
Generation IV
Portrait from
Japanese Stadium
Portrait from
Stadium 2

Artwork

Red Blue Lass Bug Catcher.png Red Blue Bug Catcher.png
Official Ken Sugimori artwork, with a Lass Art from Red and Blue

Trainer list

Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow


Pokémon Gold and Silver


Pokémon Crystal


Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire


Pokémon Emerald


Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen


Pokémon Diamond and Pearl


Pokémon Platinum


Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver


Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire


In the anime

Samurai is a boy appearing as the character of the day, who lives in Viridian Forest and dresses up in samurai armor. Like Bug Catchers, he specializes in Bug-type Pokémon and has a bug-catching net. Samurai's sole appearance came in Challenge of the Samurai.

In Charizard's Burning Ambitions, Team Rocket's Gigantic Mistake mecha is modeled after a Bug Catcher.

In The Spheal of Approval, a boy named Marius strongly resembled the Bug Catchers in the game, but did not own any Bug-type Pokémon.

Pokémon

Samurai's Pinsir
Pinsir
Pinsir was the first Pokémon Samurai used in his match against Ash. It was able to defeat Pidgeotto easily with a Tackle (though Pidgeotto was already weakened from its battle directly before with a wild Weedle), but when it tried to break Ash's Metapod in half with its pincers, Metapod used Harden and the attack backfired.

Through flashback, it is known that Samurai also used Pinsir to battle the Charmander and Bulbasaur that Professor Oak gave to the other Trainers from Pallet Town, and lost.

Pinsir's only known move is Tackle*.

Debut Challenge of the Samurai
Samurai's Metapod
Metapod
After Pinsir's failure against Ash's Metapod, Samurai sent out his own Metapod. Since neither Pokémon could use any move other than Harden, both Trainers ordered their Pokémon to harden again and again for several hours, until they had to stop their battle.

Through flashback, it is known that Samurai also used Metapod to battle Gary's Squirtle, and lost.

Metapod's only known move is Harden.

Debut Challenge of the Samurai
Voice actors
Japanese
English Eric Stuart

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Bug Catcher in Pokémon Adventures

Red, Green & Blue arc

A kid in Pallet Town that appears in the first chapter bears a resemblance to a Bug Catcher.

In Wake Up--You’re Snorlax!, a Bug Catcher appeared during the bicycle race, alongside a Swimmer and Red. He owns a Scyther. He took a shortcut through a small woods that was full of bug Pokémon. He later got stuck on Route 12 due to a sleeping Snorlax that was in the way. His number in the race was 31.

Pokémon
Bug Catcher's Scyther
Scyther
The particular Bug Catcher of the twelth round is only shown with a Scyther. He traveled with it while entering the small woods during the bike race.
Debut Wake Up--You’re Snorlax!

Emerald arc

A Bug Catcher named James is seen battling Battle Girl Cyndy in the Battle Dome. While it is unknown who won, what is known is that James at some point lost a match, eliminating him from the tournament.

Pokémon
Cyndy's Weezing
Weezing
Weezing is James's only known Pokémon. It was seen battling Cyndy's Makuhita in the Battle Dome.

Weezing's only known move is Memento.

Debut Verily Vanquishing Vileplume I

Trivia

  • The first Bug Catchers battled in all Generation III games are named Rick.
  • In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, a show on the Variety channel mentions that Aaron used to be a Bug Catcher and a Gym Leader before joining the Elite Four.
  • A Bug Catcher in the Johto Battle Tower is named Tajiri; this could be possibly a reference to the creator of the Pokémon series, Satoshi Tajiri, who liked bug-catching as a child.

In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 捕蟲少年 Bǔchóng Shàonián
Finland Flag.png Finnish Ötökkäpoika
France Flag.png French Scout
Germany Flag.png German Käfersammler
Italy Flag.png Italian Pigliamosche
South Korea Flag.png Korean 곤충채집소년 Gonchungchaejipsonyun
Spain Flag.png Spanish Cazabichos



Trainer classes in the Pokémon core series
Kanto Ace Trainer*BeautyBikerBird KeeperBlack Belt*Bug CatcherBurglarCamper*ChampionGSCFRLGHGSSPE
ChannelerElite FourGSCFRLGHGSSPEEngineerFishermanGamer*GentlemanGym Leader*GSCFRLGHGSSPE
HikerJugglerLassPicnicker*Poké Maniac*Pokémon Trainer*GSCPEPsychicRivalFRLGRockerRoughneck*
SailorScientistSuper NerdSwimmerTamerTeam Rocket Boss*FRLGHGSSPETeam Rocket Grunt*Youngster
BoarderHGSSDouble TeamHGSSFirebreatherGSCHGSSGuitaristGSCHGSSMediumGSCHGSS
PokéfanGSCHGSSSchool Kid*GSCHGSSSkierHGSSTeacherGSCHGSSTwinsGSCFRLGHGSS
Cool CoupleFRLGCrush KinFRLGSis and BroFRLGYoung CoupleFRLGHGSS
Coach TrainerPEKarate MasterPEPunk GuyPETeam RocketPETeam Rocket AdminPE
Master TrainersPE
Unused Trainer class:
ChiefRGBY
Sevii Islands Aroma LadyBikerBird KeeperBlack BeltBug CatcherCamperCool CoupleCooltrainerCrush Girl
Crush KinCue BallFishermanGentlemanHikerJugglerLadyLassPainterPicnickerPokéManiac
PKMN BreederPKMN RangerPsychicRuin ManiacScientistSis and BroSwimmerTamer
Team Rocket AdminTeam Rocket GruntTwinsTuberYoung CoupleYoungster
Trainer Tower only:
BeautyBurglarEngineerRockerSailorSuper Nerd
Johto Ace Trainer*BeautyBikerBird KeeperBlack Belt*BoarderBug CatcherBurglarCamper
ChampionExecutive*FirebreatherFisherman*GentlemanGuitaristHikerJugglerKimono GirlLass
LeaderMediumPicnickerPokéfanPoké Maniac*PKMN TrainerPoliceman*PsychicRivalHGSSSage
SailorSchool Kid*ScientistSkierSuper NerdSwimmerTeacherTeam Rocket Grunt*TwinsYoungster
Mystery Man*CHGSSDouble TeamHGSSElderHGSSPasserbyHGSSYoung CoupleHGSS
Battle Frontier only:HGSS

Aroma LadyArtistBattle GirlCameramanClownCollectorCowgirlCyclistDragon TamerIdol
JoggerLadyNinja BoyParasol LadyPIPoké KidPKMN BreederPKMN RangerRancherReporter
Rich BoyRoughneckRuin ManiacSocialiteTuberVeteranWaiterWaitressWorker
Arcade StarCastle ValetFactory HeadHall MatronTower Tycoon

Hoenn Ace Trainer*Aqua AdminSEASAqua LeaderSEASAroma LadyBattle GirlBeautyBird KeeperBlack Belt
Bug CatcherBug ManiacCamperChampionCollectorDragon TamerElite FourExpertFisherman
GentlemanGuitaristHex ManiacHikerInterviewers*KindlerLadyLassLeaderMagma AdminREOR
Magma LeaderREORNinja BoyOld CoupleParasol LadyPicnickerPoké Fan*Poké Maniac*Pokémon Breeder*
Pokémon Ranger*Pokémon Trainer*PsychicRich BoyRuin ManiacSailorSchoolkid*Sis & Bro*Swimmer
Team Aqua GruntSEASTeam Magma GruntREORTeammates*TriathleteTuberTwinsWinstrateYoung CoupleYoungster
Ace DuoORASBrains & BrawnORASBackpackerORASDelinquentORASFairy Tale GirlORASFare PrinceORAS
Free DiverORASLeadersORASLorekeeperORASMysterious SistersORASProprietorORASRotation GirlORAS
Scuba DiverORASSecret Base ExpertORASSecret Base TrainerORASSootopolitanORASStreet ThugORAS
Battle Frontier only:E
Arena TycoonDome AceFactory HeadPalace MavenPike QueenPyramid KingSalon Maiden
Battle Institute and Battle Maison only:ORAS
ArtistBattle ChatelaineButlerChefFurisode GirlGarçonGardenerMadameMaidMonsieurOwnerPreschooler
Punk GirlPunk GuyRising StarRoller SkaterSchoolboySchoolgirlScientistTouristVeteranWaitressWorker
Sinnoh Ace TrainerAroma LadyArtistBattle GirlBeautyBird KeeperBlack BeltBug CatcherCameramanCamperChampion
ClownCollectorCommanderCowgirlCyclistDouble TeamDragon TamerElite FourFisher*GentlemanGuitarist
Gym Leader*HikerIdolInterviewersJoggerLadyLassMadame*Ninja BoyParasol LadyPicnickerPIPoké Fan*
Poké KidPokémon Breeder*Pokémon Ranger*Pokémon Trainer*Police Officer*PsychicRancherRanchers*
ReporterRich BoyRoughneckRuin ManiacSailorSchool KidScientistSkierSwimmerTeam Galactic Boss*
Team Galactic Grunt*Tower TycoonTuberTwinsVeteranWaiterWaitressWorkerYoung CoupleYoungster
Arcade StarPtCastle ValetPtFactory HeadPtHall MatronPtMaidPtGAME FREAK'sBDSP
Project CharacterDex logo.png This Trainer Class article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.