The galleries produced by these beetles are produced just underneath the bark. The shot-hole effect is produced when newly emerged beetles leave the host plant. These protrusions can be up to an inch in length, often with several hundred on an individual tree. Afterwards, the beetles cultivate an ambrosia fungus which has been carried into the gallery by the adult. Both the adults and the larvae feed on the fungus rather than the host plant.
Female beetles remain with their brood until they mature.
Newly emerged adult beetles mate with their offspring before leaving the gallery. Flight activity apparently occurs throughout the year, with higher activity in March. Mouthparts are for chewing. This beetle attacks 126 plant species including pecan, peach, plum, cherry, persimmon, golden raintree, sweet gum, Shumard oak, Chinese elm, sweet potato and magnolia. Infestations start with a female beetle boring in to a twig, branch or trunk of a host plant.