There are multiple explanation online that varies from their center of weight, to relaxing position, weak legs, chemicals that hits their nerves… But nothing seem to be a definite answer, specially to answer why they turn on their back before dying at first.
In: Biology
I think its not that they always die on their backs but that is just the position we find them in. They are so easy to turn on their backs after they die that even a small gust could do it, plus they are more stable upside on their flat backs, so they stay on their backs.
They’re top-heavy.
The same way you would fall to the ground, likely into your front, if you suddenly fainted, bugs roll onto their backs. Your centre of gravity is high up in your abdomen if you’re biologically male and a little lower if you’re biologically female. This is how you can balance to stand upright. Unless you actively *keep* yourself upright, you fall. It is the same with bugs.
A bug’s centre of gravity is very high on their body. When they are dead or dying, they roll like a Land Rover.
When they get old, they don’t have as much strength and dexterity. If they fall over onto their backs they can’t right themselves back up. Yes, bugs too are susceptible to “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”.
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