This afternoon my wife saw some bugs outside of the kitchen window. I went out in the backyard to spray something. To my amazement and shock there were hundreds of them on back windows and on front windows and sidings. My neighbor told me they are shell bug. What should I spray and how did they arrive in hundreds? What causes their presence? Thanks.

I can’t say for sure what you’re seeing since there isn’t any specific insect that has the real name “shell bug”. Most people refer to insects with hard outer casings as having a “hard shell” so does this insect have one? Now if it does, I’ve seen where a derivative of this description can affect it’s nickname so in this case, I’m wouldn’t be surprised if it does have a hard outer “shell” from whence the nickname shell bug derived.

Now in the past when we’ve had people refer to flying pests as a “shell bug”, these bugs have turned out to be either stink bugs, ladybugs or kudzu bugs. For now I suggest you click the links I’m providing below to learn more about these three pests. My guess is you have one of them and if you do, the articles below will offer up all the information you want including the biology, the problems and the control methods you can employ to get rid of them. Now if by chance the bug you see is not one of the three below, please email us a picture of what you have and I’m sure we’ll be able to further advise.

Stink Bugs: https://bugspray.com/article/stinkbug.html

Ladybugs: https://bugspray.com/articles98/ladybugs.html

Kudzu Beetles: https://bugspray.com/kudzu_beetle_control.html