Over 100,000 live cockroaches, illegal to possess in Australia, have been confiscated from a single breeder in what officials have described as the country’s largest-ever seizure of exotic invertebrates.
The haul, comprising Madagascar hissing and dubia cockroaches, was valued at 200,000 Australian dollars. It was seized in May from a commercial breeder in Bathurst, New South Wales, according to Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water.
The Madagascar hissing species ranks among the world’s largest cockroaches, reaching two to three inches in length. Departmental photos showed a glossy, brown invertebrate considerably larger than a person’s finger, dwarfing the common Australian cockroach, which measures 0.9 to 1.4 inches.
Australia’s subtropical climate fosters a thriving environment for these insects, with hundreds of native species already flourishing across the country.
Bathurst snake catcher Stefanie Lesser told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the larger exotic species were likely being sold as as a cost-effective reptile food because their large size meant fewer insects were needed. Officials urged pet owners to seek out crickets or wood roaches to feed their lizards instead.
Both Madagascar hissing and dubia cockroaches are illegal to import into Australia. They can’t be legally kept, bred or sold no matter how they were obtained, the department said in a statement.
Australia has strict biosecurity controls at its borders to protect its agriculture and horticulture sectors and native wildlife from pest infestations. Those smuggling in undeclared or illegal animal, insect or plant material can be fined thousands of dollars.
Exotic cockroaches “have not been subject to an environmental risk assessment” and they could spread disease or harm native wildlife, the statement said. Officials warned of prosecutions against those caught with the invertebrates.
A spokesperson said charges weren’t laid against the Bathurst breeder. The cockroaches seized would be euthanized, the department said.
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