This beetle can be found in Southern Florida from Palm Beach to Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, in the Bahamas and smaller Caribbean islands, Central America.

They live in areas where Geiger Trees (Cordia sebastena) are found, such as open woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, and even gardens.

Larvae face their fecal shield up at potential predators to deter them and to use them as an umbrella to protect their fragile bodies.

Some strange behaviors have been noted and studied by researchers at Florida Atlantic University High School.

To startle predators who are trying to consume beetles, they will vibrate their heads up and down against a neck collar at high frequencies that make buzzing noises.