(March 21, 2004) -- A Los Altos bee swarm picked an unfortunate place to take up residence on March 20: an overhang above businesses fronting the busy pedestrian walkway along the west side of Bellflower Blvd. south of Stearns St.

With bee stings capable of triggering severe allergic reactions in some people -- and short-tempered Africanized bees evident in ELB last year -- Fire Dept. personnel detoured pedestrians and summoned Vector Control.

Subsequent tests will determine if the insects, sent to bee heaven, had docile or hostile DNA.