[2] It is native and fairly widespread across the southern U.S.A., extending through Central America in Guatemala and Mexico.

[1] There are two color morphs of Compsus auricephalus: predominantly green with pink/coppery head and part of the legs, or completely white to pale brown.

[5] It belongs to the predominantly Neotropical genus Compsus in the tribe Eustylini, in the subfamily Entiminae.

There is an additional species distributed in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama (as far south as the Canal Zone) that partly matches the white morph of Compsus auricephalus.

The species has been found at elevations from sea level up to 1200 m, with most specimens collected below 100 m.[3] Host specificity in broad-nosed weevils is difficult to assess, given that the presence of adults on a particular plant does not necessarily mean that feeding occurred.