Customs officials in Australia have seized more than 100,000 cockroaches that were being smuggled into country. Included in seizure were thousands of Madagascar hissing cockroaches. These are giant insects that can be as large as palm of person's hand. There was also large number of dubia cockroaches. The value of confiscated bugs was around $143,000. Authorities said it was largest ever seizure of illegal invertebrates. environment spokesperson warned potential roach breeders: "If you are found to possess, breed or trade exotic cockroaches...they will be seized and you could face penalties under federal law."
seized cockroaches were probably imported to be fed to pet reptiles. Professional snake catcher Stefanie Lesser said roaches were more "cost-effective" than feeding lizards smaller bugs. Ms Lesser added that roaches could have become invasive species and caused lot of harm to indigenous creatures like crickets, which birds rely on. She said: "If they got out and they had disease on them, they could potentially wipe out all crickets." She told Australian Broadcasting Corporation that if diseased cockroaches entered food chain, they could "potentially wipe out whole lot of native animals". Sadly, impounded bugs will be killed and disposed of by authorities.
