We saw this bug in the woods 'hopping' vertically on the wet soil.
A search reveals it to be a cranefly (Tiger Cranefly - Nephrotoma flavescens I believe) laying her eggs:
Crane Flies mate on plants near water or in mid-air over the water, depending on the species. Adult Crane Flies do not eat. They have only one purpose, to mate and lay eggs.
Female Crane Flies lay eggs in water or in moist soil near the water. If a Crane Fly lays them in water, she will stick the tip of her abodmen under the surface and the eggs will sink to the bottom. If a Crane Fly lays her eggs in soil, she uses her ovipositor to inject them below the soil surface.
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