Final answer:
Determining the number of days a corpse has been decomposing based on the absence of ants is not possible without additional context and forensic investigation. Biological decomposition is complex and influenced by many factors, requiring the expertise of a forensic entomologist for accurate time of death estimation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is attempting to estimate the time of death based on the presence or absence of specific types of decomposition, specifically the lack of ants on a corpse found in the woods. Biological decomposition is a process that occurs in stages, involving various organisms and environmental factors. Typically, insects such as ants are attracted to a corpse shortly after death, participating in the decomposition. However, an exact time frame cannot be provided without considering additional factors such as temperature, humidity, the condition of the corpse, and whether it was found in an environment that ants could access. For a professional determination of the postmortem interval, a forensic entomologist would examine the corpse and the associated insects.
Examples from literature describe situations where bodies decay or remain preserved in different conditions. Bogs, for example, can preserve bodies for centuries due to their acidic, low-temperature, and anaerobic conditions, which slow down decomposition. The absence of ants could also be related to such specific circumstances or by the actions of other predators and environmental conditions that make it unsuitable for ant colonization. Without specialized knowledge and a thorough investigation, the number of days the corpse has been in the woods cannot be accurately determined.