Scolytids undergo complete metamorphosis. Larvae are small, somewhat grub-like in shape, legless, and white to cream colored. Head capsules are reddish brown to dark brown, and equipped with strong mandibles which enable them to excavate wood. Pupae are white to cream colored but lack dark head capsules. The numbers and arrangement of spines are used to identify species.
Beetles possess powerful mandibles with which to bore through tree bark and wood.
Given the great diversity in the family Scolytidae, there are wide variations in their life cycles and habits. The following scenario serves as a general description. A series of niches dot both sides of the main gallery, and a single egg is deposited in each niche. Mature larvae pupate at the ends of their galleries. Depending on the specific species and geographic latitude, scolytids may produce a single generation per year or several.