A zoo in New York is letting heartbroken visitors name cockroaches after their toxic exes for Valentine's Day.

The Bronx Zoo is holding its annual 'Name-a-Roach' event, allowing donors to name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after an ex-loved one for 15 USD.

The zoo will then send a digital name certificate, and the skin-crawling bugs will be displayed in the zoo's Madagascar exhibit.

The Bronx Zoo said: 'Naming a roach is a Valentine's tradition for us. Roses and chocolates come and go, but roaches last an eternity - just like our love.'

Bug enthusiasts can also buy roach-themed items like belts, bags, plush toys, or even a virtual encounter with the cockroaches themselves.

The zoo said more than 56,000 cockroaches have been named since the popular Valentine's Day campaign was established in 2011.

The zoo said it will be accepting orders until February 5. The profits will go to the Wildlife Conservation Society and Bronx Zoo for the care and protection of its animals.

The Madagascar hissing cockroach is a large, wingless cockroach native to Madagascar. It is known for the distinctive hissing sound it produces by forcing air through specialized openings on its abdomen.

Despite their sinister name, these cockroaches are popular in research and as exotic pets due to their harmless nature.