Giant hissing cockroaches among $200,000 worth of illegal insects seized in Australia
Key takeaways
- The seizure, worth $AU200,000 ($143,000; £106,000), included Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia cockroaches from a breeder in Bathurst, 200km west of Sydney.
- It is the largest seizure of illegal exotic invertebrates, authorities said.
- The illegal cockroaches, often fed to pet reptiles, will be killed and disposed of by authorities.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Lana Lam Sydney Supplied: DCCEEWMadagascar hissing cockroaches are some of the biggest in the world More than 100,000 illegal exotic cockroaches - some as big as the palm of a hand - have been seized by Australian authorities from a commercial breeder in New South Wales.
The seizure, worth $AU200,000 ($143,000; £106,000), included Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia cockroaches from a breeder in Bathurst, 200km west of Sydney. Both species cannot be legally imported into Australia or kept, bred or sold.
It is the largest seizure of illegal exotic invertebrates, authorities said. The illegal insects can spread disease and harm native wildlife and agriculture, they added.