Ips galleries on pinyon. Adults are small grayish moths. They overwinter in a small, silk cocoon on the bark. In mid- to late May, they feed by tunneling into the base of the unopened buds. They mine the pith of the terminal growth, causing more damage as they grow.
Large larvae move on to new tissue, cones or shoots.
Pupation occurs inside the terminals and cones. Adults lay eggs from late June through August. There is one generation per year. Adults are a rusty brown. The larvae are reddish-yellow caterpillars with a black head and dark area behind the head.