Tell someone how much they mean with a cockroach

Want to show someone this Valentine’s Day how much they mean to you? Several zoos are offering to name a cockroach after a loved one — or a not-so-special someone.

IMAGE: SAN ANTONIO ZOO

The San Antonio Zoo is hosting its annual Cry Me a Cockroach fundraiser, where funds raised support the zoo’s vision of securing a future for wildlife in Texas and around the world.

By donating to the zoo this Valentine’s Day, you can symbolically name a cockroach, rodent or vegetable after your not-so-special someone.

As part of your donation, you will receive a digital downloadable Valentine’s Day Card showing your support for the Cry Me a Cockroach Fundraiser. Be sure to share the fun on social media with hashtag #CryMeACockroach and tag @SanAntonioZoo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok!

Your donation also gives you the option to send your not-so-special someone a digital downloadable Valentine’s Day card informing them they were named after a cockroach, rodent or vegetable and fed to an animal at San Antonio Zoo.

According to the zoo’s website, the most popular names last year were Jacob and Sarah.

The different levels of donation options include:

• Select the $5 donation to name a vegetable after someone
• Select $10 to name someone after a cockroach
• Select the $25 option to name someone after a rodent

If you upgrade your donation to $150 personalized option, the San Antonio Zoo will create an individualized video message of your cockroach, rodent or vegetable being fed to one of the animals to send to your not-so-special someone. This option sells out fast and is limited to 20 purchases.

For more information or to name someone, check out the San Antonio Zoo website.

Other zoos are also spreading the love by letting you name a pest after your Valentine.

A look at some of the gift options if you name a loved one after a cockroach at the Bronx Zoo. IMAGE: THE BRONX ZOO

The Bronx Zoo in New York allows you to name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after a loved one. Along with a certificate, you can also choose the gift options of a tumbler, tote bag and a video call with the roach you’re named after.

The Bronx Zoo is also offering a “Roach Romance” event to celebrate an early Valentine’s Day at the zoo with chocolate and wine while learning about the importance of insects in the production of chocolate and the work of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) with cocoa farmers in South America.

The Erie Zoo in Pennsylvania offers both Valentine and Un-Valentine package to name a cockroach after someone. Starting at $10, you can name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after your Valentine or an Un-Valentine. It can show your love, or lack of, to someone in your life. The sender has the option of a digital or mailed package, which comes complete with a bonus rubber hitchhiker. Ten percent of every purchase will support Erie Zoo’s conservation efforts.