Insect succession and decomposition of pig carcasses in water

Water effectively limited the number and kind of arthropod scavengers reaching animal carcasses in water. Insects eventually disposed of the carrion, but at a rate approximately one-third that for carcasses on the soil surface. A definite arthropod succession occurred among the 102 insect species inhabiting water carrion; each stage of decay had its particular group of scavengers.