A Local Icon
In 1980, after moving to a new building along Interstate 95, our company's leadership had an idea to put something unique on top of our roof. That small idea turned into the world famous Big Blue Bug.
Constructed of steel and covered with fiberglass, the Big Blue Bug is an exact replica of an Eastern Subterranean Termite, also known as Reticulitermes flavipes. It is 58 feet long, 9 feet tall and weighs 4,000 pounds!
The Bug was originally painted purple, the color of a live termite swarmer under a microscope, but the sunlight soon faded it to blue. It became so well known as the "Big Blue Bug" that we decided to keep it blue.
It quickly gained local, national and international fame by its uniqueness. The Big Blue Bug has appeared in a number of movies and television programs, including:
- Dumb and Dumber
- Dumb and Dumber To
- The Today Show
- The Oprah Winfrey Show
- The Daily Show
- Family Guy
Many books and comic strips have also included Rhode Island's unofficial mascot, such as:
- Zippy the Pinhead
- Bosquet
- Providence by Geoffrey Wolff
- Roadside America by Mike Wilkins, Ken Smith, and Doug Kirby
- Weird New England by Joseph Citro
A picture of the Big Blue Bug is part of a mural at the Denver International Airport, and a painting of Nibbles hangs on the wall of a luxury hotel in Europe. It was even featured on a Rhode Island scratch-off lottery ticket!
In 1990, we held a contest to give the Big Blue Bug an official name. Geraldine Perry of Tiverton, Rhode Island, submitted the winning name: Nibbles Wood away. The name was a hit because termites eat wood!
Nibbles often dresses up for different holidays and celebrations. The biggest costume each year is Rudolph for Christmas. The Bug is wrapped in Christmas lights and wears antlers and a blinking red nose. Before the Rudolph costume is revealed, there is always an annual lighting ceremony featuring a special guest to do the lighting honors. It has become a Rhode Island tradition, similar to the Rockefeller Tree in New York City.
In June of 2002, The Bug left the roof of our office for the first time. It was refurbished and repainted to a more vibrant blue color. Before returning to the roof, Nibbles took a road trip, making 5 stops along the way (Bristol's 4th of July Parade, the Benny's in Warwick, Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, the Wakefield Mall, and Cardi's Superstore in Swansea, MA) so his many fans could see him up close in person.
Nibbles Woodaway built up such a great reputation that on April 9, 2012, we finally did what our fans had been asking us to do for quite some time. We changed the name of the company from New England Pest Control to Big Blue Bug Solutions. A proper name to represent our local icon!
If you want to hear more about the Big Blue Bug, contact our office at (888) 411-5699. We always love to talk about our famous mascot!
CleAn As CAN bE
Introducing Blue Glove Service! We take pride in protecting homes and businesses!
-
Every service specialist wears blue gloves upon arrival for your service.
-
We always cover up our feet before entering your home to avoid causing a mess!
-
We keep disinfectant on our vehicles to wipe down all equipment.
-
We always come equipped with appropriate PPE including face masks.
-
We are happy to provide completely paperless options for you!
CHECK OUT THE BUZZ!
UNBEATABLE PEST CONTROL, UNMATCHED REVIEWS
-
"They have exceeded expectations. Highly recommend."Alley Bergemann, called before arriving on the day of the appointment, showed up on time, and took care of re-baiting the bait traps as needed. She is patient, polite and answered a few questions I had, all with a pleasant demeanor.- Jonathan P.
-
"Always been amazed by the competence and professionalism of this company."
Their man, Elijah was a gentleman and very knowledgeable professional. He took the time to carefully listen to me when I explained where the ant infestation was found. He explained clearly what he was going to do to address the issue.
- Pete M. -
"GREAT company!"The Big Blue Bug Solutions is a GREAT company with very helpful, courteous technicians. This a company that actually helps you with your problems and not try to sell you something you don't need. I am very pleased, and NO, I have no relatives that work at- Robert M.
-
"Knowledgeable, accurate and incredibly pleasant."I just cannot believe the most amazing experience customer service experience I had with Laura who could not have been more knowledgeable, accurate and incredibly pleasant. It is very rare I leave a review but this encounter deserved one!- Kimberly H.
-
"Always very polite and accommodating."We’ve been using Big Blue Bug for pest control for many years and have been very satisfied! Vince visited today for our regular check in and he is an excellent technician. Thanks, BBB!- Stacey C.
-
"Knowledgeable, respectful, courteous!"
I highly recommend Big Blue Bug Solutions - first - for their customer service. They are professional and efficient and always try to fit me in at a time that is convenient for me. Second, RODNEY IS THE BEST TECHNICIAN!!!!
- Meredith L. -
"Our first service was a great experience!"Peter called to let us know he was on his way and arrived as scheduled. He was very knowledgeable and setup a comprehensive array of traps in each target area to begin capturing the pests and put an end to our troubles.- Mike H.
-
"Personable, friendly, and knowledgeable!"Shoutout to our tech, Jeremy Cote, who has been servicing our bakery in Richmond and has helped us maintain a pest free environment. He is personable, friendly, and knowledgeable. We highly recommend big blue bug to friends, family, and customers!- Becky M.
