Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: It looks like an ant on steroids! , 0 by Bondi146

Bondi146 wrote:
My parents are raspberry farmers, and while harvesting yesterday, my mother found this very odd insect. I've never seen one before, and we've had raspberries for years. Not long after we found this one, a second one turned up, but we put it outside. I got a jar for the insect in the picture, and now I'd like to know what it is.

The main part of the body is black, with the abdomen yellow with a black spot on the top. It has six legs in all, and the front legs are almost like a praying mantis'; however they are much larger in proportion to the insects size. It has antenna that are very thin, point forward, and are at least as long as its body. The most bizarre feature of this insect is the spikes that cover the black areas; the yellow on its abdomen is smooth. It's not even half an inch long (not including antenna), and seems fairly delicate if you don't notice the spikes. It also seems to have a proboscis of some sort, which folds straight back instead of being curved like a butterfly's.

I'm really curious as to what this is, and whether it might pose any danger to the raspberry crop or to humans. Thanks!