On Valentine’s Day, many people give chocolate, roses, or cards to those they care about. But the Bronx Zoo has a much wackier gifting tradition: naming cockroaches! Every February, gift-givers can log on to the zoo’s website to join the “Name a Roach” program. For $15, you can name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after someone. The gift comes with a picture of a roach!
Madagascar hissing cockroaches aren’t exactly cute and fuzzy. These giant insects can grow up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) long. They’re known for the hissing sound they make to scare off predators. So why pair them with Valentine’s Day?
“People have a lot of fun with it,” says Meghann Kelley-DiSalvo, marketing director for the program. “It’s a popular gift for parents to give kids.” With each donation supporting the Wildlife Conservation Society, what’s not to love?