Which beetle family is usually the last to arrive at a decomposing carcass?

• A. Dermestidae
• B. Calliphoridae
• C. Scarabidae
• D. Cleridae

Answer: (C)

In forensic insect succession, beetles arrive in a sequence that mirrors the changing state of the carcass. Scarab beetles are typically the last to appear because they specialize in desiccated remains and dried tissues. As decay progresses and moisture declines, resources suitable for Scarabaeidae larvae—such as dried skin fragments and detritus—become available, and their longer development time means they show up after the earlier, softer tissues have already been utilized by other insects. Early colonizers like blow flies initiate colonization quickly, while other beetles such as those in Dermestidae and Cleridae tend to arrive later than the flies but before the final, desiccation-adapted beetles. Thus, the presence of Scarabaeidae is a sign of advanced decay and drying, marking the late stage of insect colonization.