Overwintered adults of Dendroctonus simplex LeConte emerged in May and June. One generation and two broods were produced in both 1983 and 1984. Females initiated attacks and males arrived within 2 days. One to four pairs of beetles used each entrance hole but each pair constructed a separate egg gallery.
Emergence, host attack, and re-emergence occurred between 1030 and 1700 hours NDT and at mean air temperatures above 4°C. Peaks of attack, which reflect flight peaks, occurred at temperatures above 10°C. About 90% of all parents re-emerged from first brood trees and 61% from second brood trees.
Only adults overwintered. Freezing temperatures caused complete mortality of immature stages. Thirty-five percent of new brood adults emerged in the fall and re-entered galleries at the base of trees for hibernation. Adult tolerance to cold increased from early fall to mid-winter.