insect

[geronimo 50]

about 1" long black body with red blotches on sides of face scorpion like tail has wings

[sammy snake]

Could it be one of these?

[Ice-Maiden]

Oh Sammy - NOOOoooo!!!!!! I bet you're right, but just seeing that repulsive insect made me go cold. I can't stand them. Btw - do they bite or sting? Never stayed near to one long enough to find out, but I've always wondered.

[plowter]

Could it be a Scorpion Fly?

[jedimistress]

They have no venom but they raise their tails in defence and spary smells. If threatened they can use their mandibles to bite. But all this is only if threatened. I don't believe beetles are at all agressive.

[jedimistress]

Plowter, those Green Lacewings. I have them in my house sometimes and they are truly beautiful. Am I reading it right? Do they turn into those less pleasant looking creatures in the photos below?

[plowter]

It's the other way round. Those beasties in photos 2 and 3 are the larvae and, from the text, seem to be about the same length as the adult.

Don't worry. They're not really that size!