Big Blue Bug, Fiberglass sculpture in Providence, US
Big Blue Bug is a large blue fiberglass termite sculpture mounted on a rooftop along Interstate 95 in Providence, Rhode Island, about 58 feet (18 meters) long and 9 feet (3 meters) tall. It functions as an advertisement for a regional pest control company and faces the highway so drivers can spot it easily.
The sculpture was built in 1980 by the Avenia Sign Company and was originally painted purple, a color linked to how swarming termites appear under a microscope. At some point it was repainted blue, which is the color it carries today.
The termite was named Nibbles Woodaway through a public naming contest in 1990, and locals still refer to it by that name today. Travelers passing through Providence often recognize it as a playful marker of the city's character.
The sculpture sits on a rooftop along Interstate 95 and is easy to spot from a moving vehicle without stopping or taking an exit. Drivers heading south on the highway get the clearest view of the figure.
On special occasions the sculpture receives seasonal additions, such as a surgical mask fitted during the 2020 pandemic, which drew attention far beyond the local area. These touches are planned by the pest control company and have become a small tradition in themselves.
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