Twig girdlers are widely distributed in the New World from North America to southern South America. Only three genera are known to occur in the USA (Cacostola, Lochmaeocles, and Oncideres). Taricanus has been recorded from the USA, but this is likely an erroneous record (J.E. Wappes, pers. comm.).
Twenty five genera are known from Central America (including Mexico). Thirteen twig girdler genera are known from Mexico; Costa Rica and Panama each have 21 genera recorded.
In the Antilles, they are known from all countries and territories in the region EXCEPT: Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Aruba, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Martin, and Turks and Caicos Islands.
The majority of twig girdler genera (77) are known from South America, with most occurring in Brazil (71). Although two twig girdlers were originally described from Chile in 1859, this is believed to be an error as no members of this group have been collected there since (J.E. Barriga, pers. comm.). See Bezark and Monné (2013)Bezark and Monné (2013):
Bezark LG, Monné MA. 2013. Checklist of the Oxypeltidae, Vesperidae, Disteniidae and Cerambycidae, (Coleoptera) of the Western Hemisphere. for current geographic distribution.
Disclaimer: Geographic distribution (countries) listed in this key are limited to data recorded in the literature and specimen labels. Many genera and species of twig girdlers are recorded from only one country or island, but are likely more widely distributed. Therefore, use the geographic distribution data with the knowledge that new records are found on a regular basis. Distribution data has not been updated since the original 2012 release of this tool.
