Looking at this question further, if applying N2O merely causes young 
bees to become nectar foragers immediately (Ribbands), then it makes 
sense that beekeepers might well assume that the old foragers had not 
left the newly relocated hive and returned to the original stand because 
they see no diminution in the number of foraging bees coming and going 
the newly moved hives.

Having a good field force is important to the newly moved hives, so that 
could be a good thing if the sudden transformation of the nurse bees to 
nectar foragers does not short-change the nursery and reduce brood rearing.

The reduction in pollen foragers would impact brood rearing quite 
severely in some cases I would think, as the loss of pollen foragers in 
newly moved splits has set them back badly at certain times in spring, 
in my experience. That latter observation is behind my concern about 
moving new splits less than two miles and considering using ammonium 
nitrate. (Now under reconsideration after the caveats received and after 
achieving a better understanding [I think])

None of these suspected effects is easy to observe and quantify, and in 
the case of spring hives, there may be a surfeit of young bees anyhow.

Some say a surfeit of young bees is a cause of swarming, so now I wonder 
if applying ammonium nitrate smoke might reverse a swarming urge in a 
swarmy hive with lots of room?

Or would a shortage of house bees ready to accept nectar nullify the 
effect of getting the young bees out of the hive?

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