Final answer:
The arrival and development of insects on a dead body are predictable based on temperature, as various species appear and develop at different rates depending on the thermal environment. This aspect is crucial in forensic entomology for estimating the time of death. However, global temperature changes could impact these patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The succession of insects coming to a dead body is predictable based on temperature. Temperature greatly influences the rate of decomposition and the appearance of different insect species over time.
Flies, for instance, are particularly responsive to temperature changes, adjusting their reproductive timing accordingly. Metamorphosis, a process seen in the insect life cycle, involves distinct stages such as egg, larva, pupa, and adult, each of which may be seen at different times on a cadaver. This allows forensic entomologists to estimate the time of death based on the identity and development stage of insects present.
It is also important to consider that global temperature increases could lead to changes in insect populations, potentially affecting the predictability of these patterns. However, within a given environmental context, the sequence of insect arrival and development on a body generally follows a predictable pattern.