Its habitat is Euro-Siberian, ranging from sea level to sub-alpine.

[3] Populations were said to be found in Japan and China, but further research determined that those were actually Ips subelongatus.

[4] The insect measures around 5 mm and has a dark brown to black colour.

The species is considered hard to distinguish visually from Ips typographus.

[3][5] Besides damage from digging tunnels, the beetle also spreads fungi between trees.