[2] Many species of the genus are considered pests, both as larvae and as adults.

[2] The genus is native to the Americas, where it is distributed from Mexico to Argentina; the highest species diversity is in Brazil.

The females have flexible ovipositors with which they deposit eggs in cracks and crevices, in soil, between leaves, and beneath the sepals on fruits.

In citrus, for example, they physically damage the roots but more significant injury occurs when pathogens such as Phytophthora enter through the wounds.

The length of the larval stage varies depending on species, temperature, and nutrients available.