ILLEGAL COCKROACH SEIZURE TRIGGERS BIOSECURITY WARNING

Federal authorities have issued a warning to reptile keepers and pet businesses about the importance of biosecurity after more than one hundred thousand live exotic cockroaches were seized from a commercial breeder in Bathurst, New South Wales.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water says the haul is the largest seizure of illegal exotic invertebrates ever recorded in Australia, with an estimated value of up to two hundred thousand dollars.

Among the species seized were dubia cockroaches and Madagascar hissing cockroaches, both of which are prohibited in Australia because they have not undergone environmental risk assessments.

Authorities say the insects cannot legally be imported, kept, bred or sold, regardless of how they were obtained, due to concerns they could spread disease and threaten native wildlife and agricultural industries.

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is now overseeing the euthanasia and disposal of the insects.

The federal department says anyone found possessing, breeding or trading illegal exotic cockroaches could face penalties under national environment laws, and is urging reptile owners to use approved feeder alternatives such as crickets and wood roaches.