[2] It has recently expanded its range to the northeastern United States, where it is considered an invasive species and has destroyed massive amounts of pine forest.

It is short-legged; the front of the male's head is notched, and the female possesses a wide elevated transverse ridge,[3] and the hind abdomen of both is round.

[7][8] This attraction is known as an aggregation pheromone[9] which presents a sensor behavior for communities of SPBs to the area, causing an infestation of pine trees in the Southeastern U.S.

[10] The host is usually a pine tree[7] that is or has been stressed or damaged from natural disasters such as tornados and heavy winds, and/or areas where there may be a lack of thinning due to fire suppression.

[10] These pitch tubes cause the resin from the pine tree to begin to release as a thick, sticky, odorous, white[10] color and has the appearance of popcorn on the outer back.