Providence, Rhode Island, United States--The Big Blue Bug, also known as Nibbles Woodaway, is a giant termite mascot of Big Blue Bug Solutions located along I-95 in Providence, Rhode Island; at 928 times the size 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 sets the world record for being the World's Largest Termite Sculpture, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.
"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 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 $20,000." (Wikipedia)
Big Blue Bug Statistics
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
"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," the Visit Rhode Island says.
"It is claimed to be the world's largest artificial bug[1] at 928 times the size of an actual termite, standing 9 feet (2.7 m) tall and 58 feet (17 m) long and weighing 4,000 pounds (1800 kg).
"The Bug is annually "dressed" for Independence Day, Halloween, the season opener of the Pawtucket Red Sox baseball team, and Christmas (in lights, reindeer antlers, and a blinking red nose)."
"The fiberglass wings are worn and cracked with a few holes, and the steel legs and toes need an industrial manicure. The body has some issues, too," The Providence Journal says.
"They’d rather not take the whole bug down, in part because people depend on it for directions. The last time it was removed, a New Jersey motorist called to say he was in some place called North Attleboro, and what happened to the blue bug that was the signal to turn right toward Cape Cod?
"The bug still wears a mask because it was painted on, but at other times it has sported a Red Sox hat, Rudolph antlers and both Del’s and Awful Awful cups."
"Nibbles Woodaway, aka The Big Blue Bug, is getting a nice refreshing drink for the summertime," the WJAR says.
"New England Pest Control and Newport Creamery have teamed up to have a giant Awful Awful cup placed in front of Nibbles for four weeks, beginning Monday.
"Newport Creamery will also be offering a Big Blue Bug Awful Awful in its restaurants. There is no word as to whether Nibbles prefers coffee, vanilla or strawberry."
"Nibbles Woodaway is modeled after a blue termite. The statue was installed in 1980 and refurbished in 2002. It is made of steel and fiberglass and weighs two tons. The statue is nine feet tall, 58 feet long, with 40-foot-long wings and seven-foot-long antennae. It is perched on the roof of New England Pest Control right next to I-95. In 2012, the name of the business was changed to Big Blue Bug Solutions," the RoadArch.com says. "The statue is dressed up for the Christmas and summer seasons. For the 4th of July, Nibbles used to be dressed as Uncle Sam with a red, white, and blue hat and beard.
"For summer, he is dressed with sunglasses and given an eight-foot-tall Awful Awful milkshake which he sips through a straw. For the Christmas holidays (bottom row of photos above), he is wrapped with blue bulbs and is disguised as Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer. He wears antlers and has a flashing red nose. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2."
"Nibbles Woodaway, a.k.a. Big Blue Bug, is the largest termite in the world - and perhaps the only one colored a brilliant shade of blue," the Fotospot says.
"Maybe he was feasting on too much contaminated wood. In any case, he is the mascot of the Big Blue Bug Solutions company and he sure does make those pesky insects seem a little more attractive - which seems to defeat the purpose of an exterminating business."
Photos: Facebook/Big Blue Bug Solutions
Related world records:
World’s Largest Fire-Breathing Praying Mantis: world record in Las Vegas, Nevada
World’s Largest Boll Weevil Monument: world record in Enterprise, Alabama
World’s Largest Ant Farm, world record in Charlotte, North Carolina
World's Largest Fishing Fly Sculpture, world record in Dutch John, Utah
