How long does it take for a beetle to die? Residual movement?

Trailblazr80

Trailblazr80

Pupa
I think one of my blue death feigning beetles is dying. For several days now, it's been laying around, barely moving, not eating, and started laying on its side a couple days ago. Now it's laying straight on its back, all legs sticking up in the air... yet this whole time, its antennae quiver and its legs move. Is this residual movement? How long does it take for beetles to finally expire when they're on their way out? I've noticed this with a giant stag beetle at the museum, and some other darklings I've had.

 
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It depends on the conditions for death, age, species, heat, cold and other factors, so it all depends. Like when do you start counting down them dying? When on their side or their back, it's almost like predicting when an apple will fall off a tree. When beetles act like what you are describing I just put them out of their misery in a killing jar.

 
Thanks for the responses. It just seems to take so long, they can lie there for days not moving but still kick a leg or quiver antennae.

 
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