History Main / FriendToBugs

* ''SheilaRaeTheBrave'': Sheila Rae kisses a spider.

** In ''VideoGame/UltraDespairGirls'', it was revealed that that Touko Fukawa from the first game has a pet stinkbug by the name of Kameko. Prior to Komaru, Kameko was Fukawa's only friend she ever had. Fukawa believed that Kameko is a special stinkbug able to understand her feelings; the only one who understands how it's like to be hated for [[ThePigPen how one smells]], and that the bond between her and Kameko is stronger than any bond there ever was before between a human and an insect. Fukawa also affectionately calls Kameko her "friendsect."

* Downplayed but present in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX''. While trying to go undercover in Doma, Princess Garnet gently picks up an oglop without any revulsion, and only pretends to be freaked out ''after'' someone tells her that most girls hate bugs. It [[JustifiedTrope probably helped]] that her beloved uncle was [[spoiler:[[BalefulPolymorph turned into a sentient oglop by his scorned wife for some time]]]].

* Lutecia Alpine of the ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' franchise, an insect summoner who has [[BondCreatures a strong connection]] with her insects. One artwork included in ''Audioplay/StrikersSoundStageX'' even shows that she owns custom mittens that have the picture of one of her BigCreepyCrawlies on it.

* DependingOnTheWriter, ComicBook/AntMan of ''Comicbook/TheAvengers''. The [[LegacyCharacter second Ant-Man]] in particular gives his favorite ants names.

* [[VideoGame/{{Touhou}} Wriggle Nightbug]], obviously. Justified because she ''is'' a firefly spirit, but her powers allow her to befriend and command creatures that aren't fireflies, beetles, or even technically insects, such as [[DemonicSpiders demonic harvest mites]].

* Tallulah in ''Videogame/{{New Style Boutique 3 Styling Star}}'' is an entomologist who never quite grasps that other people don't find bugs as cool as she does, at one point letting a jar full of insects loose in the live music club on open mike night. At the end of her storyline, her final outfit is either green or flowery, all the better to resemble bugs' natural habitat.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Jonathan Landers in Mike Cook's ''Literature/{{Scorpions}}''. As a child, he tormented insects (burning ants with a magnifying glass in particular), but now he feels guilty about it. He's made an unspoken pact to be TheAtoner and never harm another bug again, not even ScaryScorpions; the book begins with him showing kindness to a scorpion. ''Giant'' scorpions are another matter...

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' has 10 year old [[ElegantGothicLolita Agitha]], the self appointed princess of the "Bug Kingdom". If the player chooses, Link can embark on a sidequest to find [[FetchQuest the 24 golden bugs for Agitha's ball]]. She squees over each one you bring to her and rewards you accordingly.
** She rewards you for the first bug by giving you the Adult's Wallet, which allows you to carry up to 600 rupees. For every bug after that, she bestows you with 50 rupees as, "compensation for your efforts" and 100 for each matched pair.
** The final reward, for successfully escorting all 24 to her castle, is the Giant's Wallet, which can hold 1000 rupees, after which, you are made an "honorary member" of her kingdom.
** If you try to leave her "castle" without giving her all the bugs you're carrying (perhaps because you've got no more room in your wallet) she'll menacingly growl, "I know you have bugs" as you go.
** Carries over to ''Hyrule Warriors''; Agitha fights with massive golden bugs, learned to pick locks from termites, [[DoNotTauntCthulhu fights the Dark Sorceress because she thought Cia was after her insects]], and will go on the offensive in Adventure Mode on the grounds that you stepped on an ant.

* The human best friend of the title character of Hyperion Studio's ''WesternAnimation/TheItsyBitsySpider'' is a young [[{{Meganekko}} meganekko]] named Leslie.

* ''Franchise/WinnieThePooh'': The series ''My Friends Tigger and Pooh'' has Rabbit's friend Small the beetle, and also a group of ants that are on nodding terms with the main characters.

Because this involves being affectionate toward creepy-crawlies, the unstoppable force of the stereotype that women hate bugs meets the immovable object of the expectation that guys aren't affectionate toward animals. The result is that this trope tends to be gender-neutral but rare. Male examples often fall under BoysLikeCreepyCritters.

%%* Jumpy Ghostface of ''WesternAnimation/Hero108''

* ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}}'': From when he was made to play with them as a child, he has a familiarity with them. [[spoiler:Following the true final boss battle with the Titan Dweevil, a large spider, both Olimar and the Hocotate Ship theorize that Louie may have been [[HijackingCthulhu controlling it himself]]. He even insists that his proper title is the "King of Bugs".]]

* In ''Manga/{{Working}}'', Souta loves everything small, including bugs. He compares a bug getting squashed to murdering Popura. She's unsure if she should feel praised or insulted by that.

* ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'': Sig generally [[TheStoic is unemotive and isn't motivated by much]], but is genuinely fascinated with bugs, enjoys BugCatching, and even keeps a pet ladybug with him at all times. ''VideoGames/PuyoPuyoTetris'' also reveals that [[spoiler:his red hand houses a family of bugs, which disgusts Schezo.]]

* ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'': Sig generally [[TheStoic is unemotive and isn't motivated by much]], but is genuinely fascinated with bugs, enjoys BugCatching, and even keeps a pet ladybug with him at all times. ''Puyo Puyo Tetris'' also reveals that [[spoiler:his red hand houses a family of bugs, which disgusts Schezo.]]

** The player can be one if they choose to have a team full of Bug-types. it's even more impactful in the later games where you can feed and play with your party of giant bugs.

* [[MeaningfulName Bugsy]], the Azalea Town Gym Leader in ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', is an avid fan and researcher of Bug-type Pokémon who hopes to one day become an authority on the subject. His title is even "The Walking Bug Pokémon Encyclopedia". Naturally, he specializes in Bug-type Pokémon.

** Not to mention the Bug Catcher and Bug Maniac classes of trainer. Heck, Satoshi Tajiri based the entire concept of Pokemon on catching bugs as a child and making them fight with his friends' bugs, so [[AuthorAppeal it's only natural that the series is full of bugs and bug trainers]].

* In ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lady_Who_Loved_Insects The Lady who Loved Insects]]'', the title character is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, and is regarded by her peers as something of a {{cloudcuckoolander}} for it. It's believed Creator/HayaoMiyazaki drew inspiration from this character in his design of his character Manga/{{Nausicaa|OfTheValleyOfTheWind}}'s personality.

* In ''Manga/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'', Nausicaa is sympathetic toward the giant insects of the poisonous forest, particularly the dinosaur-sized ohmu. She even attempted to keep a tiny ohmu as a pet as a small child, though eventually the adults found it. Appropriately, one of the inspirations for ''Nausicaa'' was an old Japanese tale ''The princess who loved insects''.

* In ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_Who_Loved_Insects The Lady who Loved Insects]]'', the title character is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, and is regarded by her peers as something of a {{cloudcuckoolander}} for it. It's believed Creator/HayaoMiyazaki drew inspiration from this character in his design of his character Manga/{{Nausicaa|OfTheValleyOfTheWind}}'s personality.