'World famous' Big Blue Bug has its own billboard in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) - Rhode Island's most famous insect now has its own billboard.

Big Blue Bug Solutions is promoting its 59-foot termite mascot, named Nibbles Woodaway, as a tourist destination.

The pest control company put up a billboard on Interstate 95 south in Providence Tuesday.

“Believe it or not, but we get requests from all over about the Big Blue Bug -- and it is world famous,” said Tony DeJesus, vice president of Big Blue Bug Solutions. “We had people come last summer from Australia -- all the way from Australia -- they came to visit Rhode Island. They had relatives here. So, it wasn't just for us but they wanted to see the bug.”

The blue bug went up in 1980 and sits on the roof of the company’s Providence office, overlooking I-95. DeJesus told NBC 10 News the company never imagined it would become this famous.

“We get requests from service people overseas,” DeJesus said. “Their family wants to send them something to remind them of home and we send them a hat or a T-shirt or something.”