Let me throw out another question.
Does a swarm try to find a new site some (minimum) distance away from the
parent? How does this work out as regarding competition for available
forage, etc. I have a dim recollection of reading somewhere that a swarm
won't investigate potential home-sites that are too "close" to their
origin. I wonder if anyone can provide some info or references.
I have always presumed that swarms that arrive and occupy empty hives at my
bee-yards have always come from some distance away, and not from my own
hives there. Any comments appreciated. Thanks!
JWG