What aspect of a body may help forensic entomologists estimate the time of death?

Forensic entomologists primarily rely on the presence of maggots and other insects to estimate the time of death, a process known as entomological (or insect) succession. The life cycle of flies and other insects that colonize a body after death is well-documented, allowing forensic experts to establish a timeline based on the species present, their developmental stages, and how long they have been there.

When a body decomposes, various insects will arrive at different times, starting with blowflies, which are often the first to arrive within minutes or hours after death. The specific developmental stages of these insects, from egg to larvae (maggots), and then to pupae, provide critical clues about how long the body has been decomposing.

In contrast, while the color of the skin, the stage of decomposition, and body position might provide some context regarding the body's condition, they do not give as precise a timeline for the time of death as the evidence collected through entomological studies. Thus, the presence of maggots is the most reliable indicator used in forensic entomology for estimating the time of death.