Water striders are common throughout California. They have been collected from sea level to 8,500 feet. In California there are five Gerrid genera, Gerris, Halobates, Limnoporus, Metrobates and Trepobates. Eleven species of water striders occur in California, most belonging in the genus Gerris. They are separated from the veliids by the absence of a median longitudinal groove on the frons and the absence of metathoracic scent gland channels.
Most species are dark colored or reddish brown.
A few species have gray yellow or silver markings. The head of a water strider possesses two widely separated compound eyes, a pair of long slender antennae and a long recurved beak. Their front legs are short and raptorial. The middle and hind legs are spindly and used for locomotion with the middle pair the longest. In the genera Gerris and Limnoporous the body is elongate.