Although this emergence appears to correspond to two separate generations, CBT has only one functional generation per year. Adult activity is crepuscular with peak activity in the early morning. Female oviposition occurs 3-4 days after emergence with the majority of oviposition in the early a.m. Females can lay 40-60 eggs. Eggs are oviposited singly or in clusters of 2-3.
Eggs are white and lenticular in shape becoming clear red after a few days.
Eclosion occurs in 14-24 days. Larvae feed specifically in areas of scar tissue. First instars feed in outer sapwood, while second through fifth instars feed between the bark and cambium. Frass tubes ultimately become the hybernaculum for pupation. Infestations usually occur upward with the greatest amount of infestation along the base of the tree.