Swarm of aggressive bees identified as ordinary honey bees

Aggressive bees in Concord that sent two people to the hospital earlier this month were revealed by DNA testing to be ordinary honey bees, according to an official with the state Department of Food and Agriculture.

A postal carrier and a homeowner were injured by the swarm of bees in the 3800 block of Hitchcock Drive on the morning of May 14.

The hive was removed from the area and the bees were tested by state agricultural officials. Despite concerns that they might be Africanized “killer bees,” DNA testing showed that they were simply ordinary honey bees.

Food and Agriculture spokesman Steve Lyle said the department’s Plant Pest Diagnostics Center tested seven bees provided by Contra Costa County and found them to be European honey bees.