While walking at Hollyhock Hollow a few days ago, I noticed this unusual creature slowly making its way across the gravel road. It is a hellgrammite, the aquatic larval stage of the dobsonfly.

For most of its life, it lived hidden beneath rocks in a clean, well-oxygenated stream, where it was an active predator. But when the time comes, it leaves the water and crawls onto land to complete one of the most remarkable transformations in the insect world.

To me, it was simply crossing a road.

To the hellgrammite, it was the final leg of a journey that had taken years.

It made me wonder how many extraordinary stories are unfolding beneath our feet every day—stories we never see because we never stop to notice.

Stewardship begins with noticing.

— Ron Dodson

I also can’t help but smile at the mystery behind the adult’s name. No one seems to know for certain why it’s called a dobsonfly. Perhaps somewhere in history there really was a Mr. or Ms. Dobson who admired them… or maybe even a distant relative. 😉