What kind of insect is this? (picture)

It was very small (about 1/4 of an inch) and was found in the Appalachian mountains/Cherokee National Forest.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63438817@N03/5769817381/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63438817@N03/5769817297/

It is a nymph (immature stage) of a Wheel Bug, a type of Assassin Bug. Harmless to people, they eat lots of 'pest' type insects like flies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_bug