Breaking News English

100,000 cockroaches that were being [snuggled / smuggled] into the country. [Included / Inclusive] in the seizure were thousands of Madagascar hissing cockroaches. These are [giant / gaunt] insects that can be as large as the [palm / psalm] of a person's hand. There was also a large number of dubia cockroaches. The value [of / at] the confiscated bugs was around $143,000. Authorities said it was the largest [ever / even] seizure of illegal invertebrates. An environment spokesperson [waned / warned] potential roach breeders: "If you [be / are] found to possess, breed or trade exotic cockroaches...they will be seized and you could [head / face] penalties [under / over] federal law."

The seized cockroaches were probably imported [for / to] be fed to pet reptiles. Professional snake catcher Stefanie Lesser said the roaches were [more / much] "cost-effective" than feeding lizards smaller bugs. Ms Lesser added [that / what] the roaches could have become an [invasion / invasive] species and caused a lot of harm [to / as] indigenous creatures like crickets, which birds rely [in / on] . She said: "If they got out and they had a disease on them, potentially it could wipe [in / out] all the crickets." She told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that if diseased cockroaches entered [their / the] food chain, they could "potentially wipe out a whole [lot / lots] of native animals". Sadly, the impounded bugs will be killed and disposed [at / of] by authorities.