Final answer:
House flies and blow flies are typically the first insects to arrive within 24 hours of death. Their presence, along with other opportunistic insects, assists forensic entomologists in estimating time of death and provides insight into insect life cycles and behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Insects that typically arrive within the first 24 hours of death include types of flies, such as the house fly and blow fly. These insects are drawn to deceased animals to lay their eggs, which then hatch into maggots that feed on the decaying tissue. This behavior is of particular interest to forensic entomologists, who can estimate the time of death based on the developmental stages of the maggots recovered from cadavers.
Aside from flies, the first insects to arrive at a decomposing body may also include beetles, ants, and other opportunistic insects seeking to exploit the rich resource. Understanding which insects arrive and when helps forensic entomologists piece together a timeline that can be crucial in legal investigations. These findings can also offer insights into the local ecosystem and the habits of insects, broadening our knowledge of Hexapoda and their diverse life cycles.