Water Stiders Water Stiders Water striders, or pond skaters, are gregarious semi-aquatic insects that live on the water surface. This family contains the only insect genus to adapt to life in the open ocean.
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.