An "apiary insect" refers to any insect that affects bee colonies. Some common synonyms for this term include bee pests, bee predators, and bee parasites. Bee pests are insects that cause harm to bees by feeding on them or their food sources. Examples of bee pests include varroa mites, wax moths, and hive beetles. Bee predators are insects that prey on bees and can significantly reduce the size of a bee colony. Examples of bee predators include birds, wasps, and spiders. Bee parasites are organisms that live on or inside bees and can cause harm to them, such as the Nosema fungus and the acarine mite.