The beetle has no known natural enemies within Canada's forests. A single female beetle can lay 80 or more eggs. The eggs are laid individually by the female in the bark of the tree. As they mature, the larvae will feed on the inner wood, creating winding galleries inside the tree. The only way to combat the beetle is to identify, cut down, and burn or chip the infested tree.
Insecticides are ineffective because the beetle bores deep into the tree.
The beetles are believed to travel in wooden pallets or crates used to transport goods on ships. Even though there are rules in place stipulating that crating material must not have insects in it or have insect damage, the rapidly rising number of importers and goods coming into the country make these rules difficult to enforce. Once established, the beetle is difficult to eliminate. In New York alone, several million dollars have been spent trying to eradicate the beetles, and many valuable ornamental and shade trees have been lost. Infested trees are also prone to secondary attack from other insects and diseases.