It is found in southern Florida (United States), most of the West Indies, Sinaloa and southward in Mexico, Central America, South America except Chile and in Mauritius.

[1] The larvae cause damage by feeding on new shoots of mahogany (Swietenia spp.)

and cedro (also known as Spanish-cedar and tropical-cedar; Cedrela spp.).

[2] The insects prefer a tree that gets full sun light, and isn't being shaded by a canopy level.

[3] The larvae are often called mahogany shoot borers, but the name may differ by country.