Oy that thing is nasty! Imagine if that tail thing was a stinger. Looks like it.
We had swarms of potato bugs in IN too. They look like brown lady bugs. I was roofing during one of the worst summers. They would cover the side of the house like those up there ^^. Worst part is they would get in between the bundles of shingles. Then you would flip the bundle over your shoulder and smash them all over you. And they stunk too. Just like lady bugs. Anyone smell a lady bug? If not I bet you would never guess just how rank a "cute" little bug can be.
