Big Blue Bug
The Big Blue Bug, also known as Nibbles Woodaway, is the giant termite mascot of Big Blue Bug Solutions located along I-95 in Providence, Rhode Island. It is claimed to be the world's largest artificial bug[1] at 928 times the size (by length) of an actual termite, standing 9 feet (2.7 m) tall and 58 feet (18 m) long and weighing 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg). It was constructed over a four-day period from wire mesh and fiberglass in late 1980 at a cost of US$20,000 (equivalent to $76,000 in 2024).[2]
History
[edit | edit source]The Big Blue Bug was built by Avenia Sign Company of North Providence. Anthony Pescarino, Tom Grenga, and Ronald Levesque assembled the sign over the course of a couple of months. Pescarino said: "We had to put the wings together and brought them to Delaine Street to have them coated in fiberglass."[citation needed]
The Bug was fiberglassed by Robert Garafano, Sr. of Olneyville;at Uptown Auto Body on Delaine st. It was assembled on site and then raised to the roof. The Bug was originally painted purple, the color of an actual swarming termite when observed under a microscope, but the paint soon faded to a pale blue, and the landmark became so well known in that condition that it was never repainted to its original color.[3]
The Bug was originally known only as the "Big Blue Bug", a name coined by Providence traffic reporter Mike Sheridan, until 1990, when it received the name "Nibbles Woodaway" in a contest. Geraldine Perry of Tiverton submitted the winning name.[2]
Recent events
[edit | edit source]The Bug is annually "dressed" for Independence Day, Halloween, the season opener of the Pawtucket Red Sox baseball team (before the team relocated to Worcester, MA in 2021[4]), and Christmas (in lights, reindeer antlers, and a blinking red nose). Since 1990, the company has sold stuffed toys in the Bug's likeness.[2]
On June 20, 2002, the Bug left its home for a five-stop tour. It was refurbished and painted a brighter blue before being returned to the roof of New England Pest Control.[3]
On April 9, 2012, New England Pest Control announced that they would be changing the company's name to "Big Blue Bug Solutions". The bug wore a necktie for the occasion.[3]
In April 2020, in support of the "front line workers" facing COVID-19, the Big Blue Bug put on a surgical mask.[5]
| Species | Subterranean Termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) |
|---|---|
| Height | 9 feet (2.7 m) |
| Length | 58 feet (18 m) |
| Diameter | 6 feet (1.8 m) |
| Body Length | 32 feet (9.8 m) |
| Four Wings |
40 feet (12 m), folded over in pairs |
| Antennae | 7 feet (2.1 m) |
| Legs | 11 feet (3.4 m) |
| Weight | 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) |
| Stands | 30 feet (9.1 m) above ground |
In popular culture
[edit | edit source]The bug has made numerous media appearances, including:
Films:
Television:
Comic strips:
- Zippy the Pinhead
- Breaking Cat News by Georgia Dunn has the lighting of the Big Blue Bug as a subject of several strips.
- Bosquet
Books
- Providence by Geoffrey Wolff
- Roadside America by Mike Wilkins, Ken Smith, and Doug Kirby
- Weird New England by Joseph Citro.
Other:
- It was featured on a state scratch-off lottery ticket in 1997.[2]
References
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External links
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- Big Blue Bug Solutions home page
- RoadsideAmerica.com Report on the Blue Bug
- Quahog.org description of Nibbles Archived 2006-01-06 at the Wayback Machine
- Weird Island (simplecast.com)
- Forliti, Amy (May 27, 2001) Article in The Standard-Times For 2-ton, blue termite, near-cult status in R.I.
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- Landmarks in Rhode Island
- Roadside attractions in Rhode Island
- Culture of Providence, Rhode Island
- Individual signs in the United States
- Interstate 95
- 1980 establishments in Rhode Island
- Mascots introduced in 1980
- Termites
- Sculptures of insects
- Insect mascots
- Animal sculptures in the United States
- Colossal statues in the United States