Have you ever wondered why insects die in the same position? Beetles, cockroaches, flies, crickets, and even spiders always seem to die on their backs.
This phenomenon has been the subject of much debate among amateur insect enthusiasts and professional entomologists. In some ways, it’s almost a “chicken or egg” scenario – did the insect die because it was stranded on its back and unable to stand upright? Or did the insect get on its back because it was dying?
There are some hypotheses about it and they are far more prosaic than it seems. The most common one claims that s dying insect cannot maintain tension on its leg muscles and naturally falls into a relaxed state. In this relaxed state, the legs will bend or flex, causing the insect or spider to tip over and land on its back. Read more