Madagascar hissing cockroaches among $200,000 invertebrate seizure

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 7:52am

Fri 5 Jun 2026 at 7:52am

In short:

More than 100,000 exotic cockroaches have allegedly been seized from a commercial breeder in Bathurst.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW)  says it is Australia's largest seizure of illegal exotic invertebrates.

Authorities warn the dubia and Madagascar hissing cockroaches can spread disease and harm native wildlife.

More than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches have allegedly been seized from a commercial breeder at Bathurst, in Central West NSW.

The haul included dubia cockroaches and Madagascar hissing cockroaches.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) said it was the largest seizure of illegal exotic invertebrates in Australia, with an estimated value of up to $200,000.

"We're seeing illegal breeding and trading of exotic cockroaches and we're putting pet businesses and pet owners on notice," a DCCEEW spokesperson said in a statement.

"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.

"Reptile owners who have been using dubia roaches as feeders are encouraged to seek legal alternatives such as crickets and wood roaches."

The DCCEEW said the exotic cockroaches had the potential to spread disease and harm native wildlife and agriculture.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is managing the euthanasia and disposal of the seized cockroaches.

Bathurst snake catcher Stefanie Lesser said she had seen the illegal invertebrates being sold online as reptile food.

"People do have them because they are big, they're sort of like the size of your palm of your hand," she said.

"They probably are cost-effective, rather than feeding each lizard three or four woodies, which are quite small, you could only give them one."

But Ms Lesser said the potential impact the exotic roaches could have on the environment was devastating.

"If they got out and they had a disease on them, potentially it could wipe out all the crickets … that we've got in Australia," she said.

"[The crickets are] something that the birds rely on, but if they've also got a disease [via contact with the cockroaches], they could spread the disease and so say lizards, birds, and anything else that might eat bugs, they could then fall victim to whatever disease they might have.

"So it could potentially wipe out a whole lot of native animals, and that's why having exotics and illegal pets is illegal."