Why do bugs turn on their backs when they are dying?

Answer 1

The bugs you see dead around the house are found on their backs because they have been poisoned. The poison causes their muscles to spasm, and that in turn causes them to flip over. Normally a bug that has flipped over can right itself, but the posion prevents muscle co-ordination and stops them from righting themselves. So when they die they are found on their backs.

In contrast bugs found dead in the garden are just as often found dead in standing positions or lying on their sides

Answer 2

They don't turn over onto their backs as an intended act. Instead, their nervous system isn't working well by this time. So, if they land on their back (perhaps from a fall, a cat bumps them, or a breeze blows them), they can't do much about righting themselves.

"[then] coordination declines and the ability to do complex tasks like turning over (in this case, with six legs to coordinate) ceases," explains Robert Suter, biology professor at Vassar College.

"Also, many of the synthetic organic insecticides we use these days target the insect's nervous system," says John Meyer, entomology professor at North Carolina State University.

The poison causes tremors and convulsions. The insect often flips on her back as she kicks her legs in an uncoordinated way. The poison continues the death process by undermining the insect's nervous system and her ability to right herself.

Death may come quickly since she can't get food, water, or out of a predator's way, says Suter.

Answer 3

They don't. It is the last neurological response that throws them on their backs, because you can flip them over and they will crawl, but never flip over again.., The last twitch before they kick the bucket.

Answer 4

because bugs breath from their underside, so they roll over trying to get more air to breathe.

Answer 5

their limbs go rigid and they make them sort of jump backwards before dying.

Answer 6

because dying on their fronts

would cause heartburn and other

digestive problems

Answer 7

Cause they like f*** it im already dieing let my slow a** try to make a run for it but im not going to make it but i'll try.

Answer 8

thats strange, i do the same thing

Answer 9

that way you know they are dead and not just faking it.