The spines are strings of boring dust produced by the female beetle as she excavates her gallery. The spines are fragile and are easily broken off by wind or rain. Individual plants may host from one to more than 50 individual beetles. Although adults can be captured most of the year, trap data indicate they are most active during March in Texas and Georgia. Research from Georgia indicates that there are probably two generations per season.
Color is dark reddish brown.
Females bore horizontally into twigs, branches, or small trunks of susceptible woods plants. They excavate a system of tunnels in the wood and introduce the symbiotic ambrosial fungus. They feed on the fungi which they introduce into their tunnels. Eggs, larvae and pupae are found in the tunnel system excavated by the female. Beetles breed in host plants from 2 - 30 cm in diameter, although small branches and stems are most commonly attacked.