Mystery Bug in NYC

[oncomd]

I didn't take a picture because I squashed it, freaked out it would sting me.

I've seen about 4 of these in the past 2-3 years. They are black, they remind me of crickets with hind legs (but they are smaller than crickets I think)...slightly larger than an adult house fly and they have this tail behind them with like a bulb at the end, and the tail moves like...up and down....and it had wings too....

Any insight?

[prillbug2]

Based upon your description, I can't narrow it down. It does sound like a male scorpionfly--order Mecoptera. They are harmless except to other insects, and do not sting. Were the wings patterned with black bands or spots? If so, then that may be what you smashed without any real reason.
Jeff Prill

[oncomd]

I was able to get a picture prior to disposing the garbage tonight.

[thanos]

It's a parasitic Hymenoptera : Evania sp. (Evaniidae).
We have a species identical to this in Europe : Evania appendigaster. Adults are found on flowers during summer,or can be seen walking on walls rapidly/erratically and then flying rapidly, while their larvae are found in the oothecae of cockroaches. It's harmless for human.

Thanos

[Chris Grinter]

They are egg parasites of cockroaches, might mean you have some unwanted guests!