Man's Pest Friend

Thailand's love of gastronomic exotica extends to the foulest of fauna. Grasshoppers, water bugs and dung beetles are considered fair snacktime fare. Not on the tapas menu, however, are cockroaches. Too vile even for the liberal Thai palette? No, too adorablefor months, one of the trendiest pets to own in Thailand has been the Madagascar Giant Hissing Cockroach, an imported species that can grow to centimeters in length and sells in pet shops for $1.20. "They're clean, they're cute and I love the sound they make," explains a proud local pest owner. Besides hissing, they also sizzle. Last week, Bangkok health...