h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Why is it that so many crawling insects (beetles, cockroaches) end up on their backs when they die?


az

Perhaps you assume the ones on their fronts are alive!

When they fall on their backs, they often can't get up again, so they starve to death. Therefore, there are a lot of dead insects on their backs, not the othger way round.

Most insects have ways of getting off their backs when they are alive. They generally do not starve to death.

Perhaps when dead, they are top heavy & are likely to fall over?

Maybe they're very dramatic.

B

I've seen plenty of dead bugs right-side up.

Maybe something turns them over looking for something to eat.

I'm going with Master B's answer. They yell out "Streuth!" and then flop over.

Well, sometimes they just lie there slowly wiggling their legs - what's *that* all about?

But seriously, it seems the majority of dead crawly bugs I see are lying on their backs 'patas arriba' as we say here in Spain.


az

Perhaps it's due to the breeze or wind around the ground - even a gentle puff can blow a one-gram-or-less bug around onto its back if it's dead or nearly dead.

- JD

It's because people keep buttering the topsides of insects and dropping them.

It is because they end up on their backs when they are mostly dead, and then don't have the energy to get right-side up, which they would when at peak fitness?

*imagines circuit training for house flies*

Mol

"But seriously, it seems the majority of dead crawly bugs I see are lying on their backs 'patas arriba' as we say here in Spain."

Is it just me, or is anybody else getting freaked out at the thought of Spanish people looking at a dead bug on the ground and thinking "mmmm, patas"?

Oops - I might be getting my tapas and my patas mixed up - just so long as they don't make the same mistake in Spain I guess...

Well, I think looking at a dead bug and going 'mmmmm, patas' is just as disturbing (even if patas wasn't being confused with tapas - or even patatas).

patas = feet, paws

tapas = yummy snacks

patatas = potatoes



az

Maybe just a nibble of one - it's still got 5 patas left, after all..

The bug needs a miracle worker.

Neither desiring nor being worthy to incur the wrath of 'She who will be obeyed', I humbly offer:

patas = paws
tapas = snacks
papas = potatoes
tatas = nannies
astas = spears
tasas = estimates etc.
pasta ..my bedtime


ta-ta! ----------------------------

<<'She who will be obeyed'>>





az

*quietly slips on tinfoil helmet*