A recent article in Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph reports that a new pet craze is hitting the land down under. Before you read any further, I need to point out that I am not making this up.  I’m reporting what I read for your edification.  This new pet that has Australians all a twitter sells for up to $100 for a breeding pair.  The cuddly, lovable pet I’m referring to is none other than… wait for it… the giant burrowing cockroach!

Seriously.  The giant burrowing cockroach.  Putting the word ‘giant’ and ‘cockroach’ together in the same sentence would be enough to give my lovely wife a seizure, but in Australia they are paying money for the privilege of bringing the little beasties into their homes.

Sydney University unveiled the delightful Heathcliff the Giant Burrowing Cockroach to the world yesterday.  He’s more than nine centimeters long from the tip of his grotesque antenna to the end of his disgusting little hind legs.  Being American, I have no idea how long nine centimeters is, but it sounds like it’s a big bug.

Heathcliff (I can’t believe they name bugs in the land of the kangaroo) was a hit at the university’s annual open house day.  Visitors could see not only the slimy little varmint close up, but they also took turns trying to guess how much he weighs (35 grams, apparently).  Those Aussies sure know how to have a good time.  Maybe next year they can get together to look at a pile of dingo dung and try to guess what he had for dinner.

I kid, I kid.  I love Australians.  It’s the creepy, disease-carrying giant bugs that I’m not so crazy about.