The genus was first scientifically described in 1834 by Pierre François Marie Auguste Dejean.

Epicauta is distributed nearly worldwide, with species native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica.

[2] Surveys have found the genus to be particularly diverse in northern Arizona in the United States.

[2] Few species occur in the Arctic, with none farther north than the southern edge of the Northwest Territories, Canada.

[2] The beetles can significantly damage plants, and many Epicauta are known as agricultural pests around the world, even known to cause crop failures at times.