Ips avulsus attacks on the tops of large trees and are often associated with attacks by other species of bark beetles on the lower portion of the tree. The life cycle of this beetle can be completed on as few as 25 days, and there may six generations each year. The eastern fivespined ips, Ips grandicollis, is intermediate in size among the Ips beetles commonly found in Georgia. This engraver has five spines on each side of the sunken rear end. It commonly infests the middle portions of the open trunk as well as large limbs in the crowns.
Populations normally develop in areas of recent logging operations.
The life cycle requires 25 to 30 days, and there may be six generations each year in Georgia. They commonly infest the lower trunks of pines. Trunks, stumps, and large limbs of recently felled trees are favored breeding sites, although they can attack trunks of apparently healthy trees. This is often the first species of bark beetles to attack drought-stressed trees. Attack on living trees usually occur on the lower portions of trees greater than 15 cm in diameter.