It's usually last for me also. But in a current game, I wanted to see if I could complete the gong before getting L3 Farming. I managed to do it with only 11 villagers! By that point, I also completed the shells and 11/12 of the butterflies, pebbles and beetles. I also didn't work on any building projects besides the dam, briars and mosaic (and the villagers themselves insisted on finishing the first hut. I also didn't have L3 Explore or L3 Medicine.

I bought L3 Medicine when my runner slowed down at 58, and just bout L3 Explore. I was pleased that my missing butterfly showed up soon after. So now this game just needs the last pebble and beetle!

almost exactly like I did it it/ doing it, but I had two or 3 lucky food events and first gong ring granted food so I have hut 2 built and have population of 18 but I have 4000 food so they will not starve, farming can wait although Its a serious decision what to buy next L3 science or L2 and L3 farming... L3 exploration I no need, have all the collectables!! and as a PS I have 9 elders, sad thing is one died this night I tried to save her with stews and doctors but: she did work hard and was getting slow!!!so raise a glass to Nina !!

Personally, I don't spend much time looking for collectibles. I don't really need the benefits of finishing collections, (I can't say what they are because it's not a spoiler topic.)

I've been playing one game forever. I have all the butterflies and all the pebbles and am only missing one shell and one beetle. I keep checking in for them but no luck. I guess there isn't any real trick other than the patience of Job.

i got my last beetle by making the screen show me the patch, and the research table and i became research nazi, forcing them to never leave the table while i watched for my last couple of beetles

it gave me something to do to keep me occupied

lol still haven't found them!!!!

How long is this ment to take lol!!!

the ones that appear are random

it can take days, or weeks

it depends on how diligently you are watching mostly, i think

I still haven't found them... spending the whole day looking for them!! Wish me luck

Right that's enough searching for today i'll carry on tomorrow after school. Also creating elders to pass some time as i only have 12 elders hehe

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally found the last beetle Now it's time for that pebble!!!