Australia Seizes Over 100,000 Illegal Cockroaches in Largest-Ever Raid

Wildlife officers in Australia have confiscated more than 100,000 illegal cockroaches in a raid on a commercial breeder in the state of New South Wales. Officials said the haul — worth an estimated $142,000 (€122,000) on the black market — included Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia cockroaches. It is illegal to import, keep, breed, or sell both species under Australian law. The raid took place in May in the rural town of Bathurst, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Sydney. It was the country's largest-ever seizure of illicit exotic bugs, officials said. The Madagascar hissing species, one of the world's largest cockroaches, can grow 5 to 7.5 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) in length — significantly bigger than the common Australian cockroach, which can reach 3.6 cm. Cockroaches used as food for pet lizards Australia has some of the world's strictest biosecurity measures in place at its borders to protect its unique wildlife and agricultural sectors from invasive species and disease. Those caught trying to smuggle in illegal plants, insects or animals can face hefty fines. "We take our job protecting Australia's unique biodiversity and breaches of national environment law very seriously," an environment department spokesman said. Authorities said they had observed illegal breeding and trading in exotic cockroaches to be used as food for pet reptiles. They urged pet owners to instead use crickets and wood roaches. The department said the seized insects would be euthanized. Edited by Dmytro Hubenko