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 $74,000 in 2023).[2]
History
[edit]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 Valley Street to have them coated in fiberglass."[citation needed]
The Bug was fiberglassed by Robert Garafano, Sr. of Olneyville; 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]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]The bug has made numerous media appearances, including:
Films:
- Dumb and Dumber
- Dumb and Dumber To
Television:
- The Today Show
- The Oprah Winfrey Show
- The Daily Show
- Family Guy
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.
- The 2021 novel Providence Blue by David Pinault features the Big Blue Bug as a set piece and plot device.
Podcasts:
- Sara Corben's Weird Island in Episode 39: Rhodeside Attractions: The Big Blue Bug
Other:
It was featured on a state scratch-off lottery ticket in 1997.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Patinkin, Mark (2014-03-18). "In Rhode Island we set Guinness-worthy records every day". Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- ^ a b c d Forliti, Amy (2001-05-27). "For 2-ton, blue termite, near-cult status in R.I." South Coast Today. Associated Press.
- ^ a b c Klepper, David (2012-04-09). "Providence's iconic big blue bug gets a makeover". Boston.com. Associated Press.
- ^ Barry, Dan; Hulin, Rachel (2021-05-12). "The PawSox Moved, but Pawtucket Has Yet to Move on". The New York Times.
- ^ Milkovits, Amanda; Fitzpatrick, Edward (2020-05-01). "Rhode Islanders show we are all in this together — even the Big Blue Bug". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
External links
[edit]
- 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.
- Farzan, Antonia Noori. "RI may be the smallest state, but we have the world's largest Big Blue Bug". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
- 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