I heart the Spanish language. And roaches?

I have a roach that lives in my tape player. I pop open the cassette deck and there it is, and I haven’t been able to get it out yet. My two neighbors were at the house when I found it (and proceeded to scream at it). I said how much I hate roaches to which they replied, “but it’s just a tiernita.” Diminuative feminine form of tierno, which means young or small. However in my dictionary it also means tender, soft, affectionate, sweet or kind. Amazing! It almost makes me want to keep the roach.