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Beetles have green heads, elytra and legs with a metallic sheen. Species in the Strickland collection match descriptions of other members of the genus that are 4-5 mm in length and are oval oblong in shape. Females are larger than males. Their elytra are heavily punctate, similar to G. polygoni .

This species is multivoltine and overwinter as adults (Whittaker et al. 1979). Adults do not appear to fly, but move strictly by walking (Whittaker et al. 1979). Sex ratios in this species are biased, with twice as many males as females, likely promoting competition among males for mates (Voight et al. 2010).

The genus name comes from the abdomens of the females becoming relatively engorged when carrying fertilized eggs (Blatchley 1910 and Lesage and Majka 2009). The genus also is classified by their characteristically thin pleurites and their common shape and similar colouring (Blatchley 1910). The genus has been incorrectly referred to as Gastroidea and Gastreoidea in past literature (Lawson 1950, and Lesage and Majka 2009).