Australian authorities seize more than 100,000 live exotic cockroaches in what officials describe as the largest-ever bust of such invertebrates in the country. The haul is taken from a commercial breeder in Bathurst, in New South Wales, with the seizure carried out in May and linked to a Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water investigation. The cockroaches include Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia cockroaches. Officials say both species are illegal to import into Australia and also illegal to keep, breed, or sell under current rules. Multiple outlets report the insects are potentially being sold for use as food for pet reptiles and other animal-keeping purposes, with some describing the market value as about A$200,000 (US$142,000) and street value estimates reaching around $240,000 depending on the source. Authorities describe the operation as an illegal cockroach-breeding scheme involving live insects and seek to stop their distribution and possession within Australia.