Australian authorities have raided a bug-breeding operation in the state of New South Wales, seizing more than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) said the seizure, which took place in Bathurst, west of Sydney, was worth an estimated A$200,000, making it the "largest seizure of illegal exotic invertebrates in Australia".
It included dubia cockroaches and Madagascar hissing cockroaches, both of which cannot be legally imported into Australia or kept, bred, or sold.
"Exotic cockroaches have not been subject to an environmental risk assessment, and their presence in Australia may spread disease and harm native wildlife and agriculture," the DCCEEW said.
The cockroaches will now be euthanised and disposed of by authorities.
"We take our job protecting Australia’s unique biodiversity and breaches of national environment law very seriously," a spokesperson for the DCCEEW said. "We’re seeing illegal breeding and trading of exotic cockroaches and we’re putting pet businesses and pet owners on notice."
“If you are found to possess, breed or trade exotic cockroaches such as dubia cockroaches and Madagascar hissing cockroaches they will be seized and you could face penalties under federal law," they added, while also urging any reptile owners using dubia cockroaches as feeders to seek legal alternatives such as crickets and wood roaches.
