The dead needle portion above the feeding site will fall off and the needle will grow to about one-half of normal length. During active infestations, adults feed during the day and are easily spotted. There is one generation per year. Larvae are typical beetle grubs and over-winter 2 to 4 inches deep in the soil. Pupation occurs in the spring, with adult emergence occurring in May to June.
Adults lay eggs in the soil near host pines.
Eggs hatch within 10 to 15 days and the larva feed on plant roots until winter. Infestations of pine chafer tend to occur in open pine stands and plantations. Numerous outbreaks have occurred in the Lake States and the South. The majority were short-lived and limited in size, although some outbreaks were quite extensive and lasted for several years. Wilson, L.F. 1977.