36 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2015
D
uring a hike in the Pine Ridge
Ranger District of the Nebraska
National Forest, I had my eyes
peeled for big mammals. I knew elk
were in the area, and it was my goal
to bring home some nice photos of
Nebraska's largest big game animal.
After a while, with the sun rising
high in the sky, I figured I had struck
out on getting any interesting photos
that day. As the trail crossed Bordeaux
Creek, however, a different creature
caught my eye – albeit, at just one
half-inch long, a fraction of the size.
With sunlight barely projecting through
the trees of the forest onto the stream,
a group of common insects were
scurrying on the surface of a small pool
along the bank in the fashion of hockey
players on ice. I'd seen this insect with
its mosquito-like appearance countless
times without giving it much attention,
but in this light they looked especially
interesting. I put down the big lens
and opted for the 100mm macro. For
the next half-hour or so, I took a prone
position along the creek's edge to get
the best angle on these fascinating
insects.
Most commonly referred to as water
striders, the insects are from the family
Gerridae in the order of Hemiptera.
They go by other names, including
Water Walker
Story and Photo by Justin Haag
A common insect has a highly uncommon characteristic.
