Call a Roach Your Valentine at Houston’s ‘Endless Love’ Exhibit
A Unique Way to Express Love
Love is in the air. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and people are already making plans—buying flowers, storing gifts, and booking reservations (hopefully). If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for your special someone, there’s a unique and memorable way to show that your love will last forever: naming a cockroach after your beloved.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science has revived its popular “Endless Love” promotion, allowing participants to name one of the museum’s special roaches after their valentine. For $10, you can name a roach and receive a certificate. For $15, you get the same experience plus an Endless Love Pin. This offer is available through February 14. Plus, the roach you name can be visited anytime at the Heartbreak Motel inside the museum’s store.
These aren’t just any ordinary roaches. They are Hissing Cockroaches, originally from Madagascar. Unlike the common household roaches that scurry away when you turn on the lights during a late-night snack, these roaches have a purpose in their ecosystem. They are not invasive and help with forest decomposition. These roaches can grow up to 2 to 4 inches long, making them quite large and slightly intimidating.
What makes them even more interesting is their ability to hiss. They produce sounds by pushing air through respiratory holes (spiracles) on their backs. Hisses are used for various purposes, including fighting among males, mating, and scaring off other creatures.
It’s often said that roaches will outlast humanity; they are considered one of the few species that could survive a nuclear apocalypse. Despite being seen as gross by some, they symbolize endurance and longevity, making them the perfect gift for those seeking endless love.
Still, if the idea of naming a roach after your lover doesn’t sound romantic, the museum website suggests you can also name one after a forgetful ex, adding a touch of humor to the experience.
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