Big Blue Bug
Encyclopedia
Termite
Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera , but are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea...
mascot of New England Pest Control
New England Pest Control
New England Pest Control is an extermination business located in Providence, Rhode Island that services southeastern New England. The company is best known for its mascot, Nibbles Woodaway , a giant blue termite that stands atop its office next to I-95 in Providence...
, located along I-95
Interstate 95 in Rhode Island
Interstate 95, the main north–south Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States, runs generally southwest-northeast through the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It runs from the border with Connecticut near Westerly through Warwick and Providence and to the Massachusetts state line...
in Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. The Bug is 928 times the size of an actual termite, standing at 9 feet (2.7 m) tall and 58 feet (17 m) long, and weighing 4,000 pounds (1800 kg). It was constructed over a four day period from wire mesh and fiberglass in late 1980 at a cost of $20,000.
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 purple. The Bug has made numerous media appearances, including the film Dumb and Dumber, the television programs The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
, The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
, and Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
, the comic strips Zippy the Pinhead
Zippy the Pinhead
Zippy is an American comic strip created by Bill Griffith. The character of Zippy the Pinhead initially appeared in underground publications during the 1970s...
and Bosquet, and the books Providence by Geoffrey Wolff
Geoffrey Wolff
Geoffrey Wolff is an American novelist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer. Among his honors and recognition are the Award in Literature of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and fellowships of the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Academy in Berlin , and the Guggenheim...
, Roadside America
Roadside America
Roadside America is an indoor miniature village and railway covering , created by Laurence Gieringer in 1935. It was first displayed to the public in the Rainbow Fire Company's building, and a separate exhibit was opened in Carsonia Park in 1938...
by Mike Wilkins, Ken Smith and Doug Kirby
Doug Kirby
Douglas John Kirby is an American author.Kirby is co-author of the Roadside America series of travel books. The series has received favorable reviews from The Village Voice and Car and Driver, and was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Kirby appears in the documentary In a Nutshell: A Portrait...
, and Weird New England by Joseph Citro.
The Bug was originally known only as the "Big Blue Bug," a name coined by Providence traffic reporter Mike Sheridan, until it received the name Nibbles Woodaway in a contest in 1990. Geraldine Perry of Tiverton, Rhode Island submitted the winning name.
The Big Blue Bug was built by Avenia Sign Company of North Providence,RI. Anthony Pescarino, Tom Grenga and Ronald Levesque assembled the sign over the course of a couple of months. Anthony Pescarino said, "we had to put the wings together and brought them to Valley Street to have them coated in fiberglass.". The bug was fiberglassed by Robert Garafano, Sr whose company was in Olneyville, Providence. It was then assembled on site and then raised to the roof. The Big Blue Bug has also been featured on scratch-off lottery tickets, and was officially pardoned by Mayor Buddy Cianci
Vincent Cianci
Vincent Albert "Buddy" Cianci, Jr. served as the mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, from 1975 to 1984 and again from 1991 to 2002...
for drinking Del's Lemonade (competitors of Del's claimed that the cup of lemonade
Lemonade
Lemonade is a lemon-flavored drink, typically made from lemons, water and sugar.The term can refer to three different types of beverage:...
was an impermissible billboard).
The Bug left its home on June 20, 2002 for a five-stop tour. It was refurbished and painted a brighter blue before being returned to the roof of New England Pest Control.
| Species | Subterranean Termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) |
|---|---|
| Height | 9 feet |
| Length | 58 feet |
| Diameter | 6 feet |
| Body Length | 32 feet |
| Four Wings |
40 feet (folded over in pairs) |
| Antennae | 7 feet |
| Legs | 11 feet |
| Weight | 4000 lb |
| Stands | 30 feet above ground |