Swarm traps of approx. 40 liters (about 8-9 gallons?) are said to work best. Slightly smaller will work. 400 meters away (around 400 yards away) is about perfect distance from the swarm-throwing mother colony.
I seriously doubt they'd be throwing off any more swarms in mid-Oct. Though if there is still some pollen flow, or some small amount of nectar coming in, they might be feeling a bit crowded. Their numbers will drop off when the queen slows or stops, though if they are Italians, and the queen is young (she probably IS since virgins stay at the old colony site then mate and take over queen duties there) she might keep laying.
If they are Carniolan, then the queen will shut down production sooner, when nectar sources dry up.
Did you get close enough to get a good look at 'em? The Italians are swarthy and talk with Eye-talian accents, where as the Carnies carry small red folding pocket knives with crosses on 'em, and sound like Swiss yodelers...
“Did you get close enough to get a good look at ‘em? The Italians are swarthy and talk with Eye-talian accents, where as the Carnies carry small red folding pocket knives with crosses on ‘em, and sound like Swiss yodelers...”
LOL! You can tell the africanized ones by their propensity to talk about hope and change...