Why Cockroaches Lay on Back
WouterThere are a few theories on why cockroaches lay on their backs. The first is that they’re dying. When cockroaches are poisoned, they instinctively turn their bodies back to avoid being poisoned. Since their center of gravity is on the back, they can’t easily right themselves. Their leg muscles tuck under their bodies and they can’t keep their balance. As a result, they topple over.
Another theory is that cockroaches lay on their backs to attract females. Cockroaches have a special gland on their abdomens called an ootheca. When mating, the male cockroaches will offer a tasty treat to the female to entice her to continue mating. The female will then use the sperm to fertilize her eggs.
Cockroaches have an internal storage location for sperm. This allows them to utilize the sperm as needed. They also have paired ovaries made up of ovarioles, which are strings of maturing oocytes. In addition, females need a source of water to survive and produce a healthy spawn.
Insects are known as peripheral thinkers and most of their behaviors are controlled by peripheral ganglions. The thoracic ganglia control flying behavior, while the last abdominal ganglion controls some reproductive behaviors. They also use sensory signals in their tail to escape danger. If cockroaches are separated from their host, they will stay on their backs for several hours or even weeks.
