[6] In early spring the female exits the hole and disperses, the male is smaller and wingless and stays in their natal tree.

These include Acer, Aesculus, Alnus, Betula, Castanea, Celtis, Crataegus, Corylus, Cydonia, Fagus, Fraxinus, Juglans, Liriodendron, Magnolia, Malus, Platanus, Populus, Prunus, Punica, Pyrus, Quercus, Salix, Styrax, Tilia, Ulmus, and Vitis.

[2][5][9][4] This beetle could be able to infect such a wide variety of trees because of its association with fungi potentially overcoming some of the plant's natural defenses.

[10] In the field of forest ecology, ambrosia beetles such as Xyleborus dispar that attack dead or dying plant matter are important for the decay process and leads to nutrient cycling.

[4][6] The beetle is mostly an economic pest of fruit trees including apple,[13] pear,[14] apricot, and peach, but damage has also been reported from vineyards.

[5][11] Drought, waterlogged soils, and temperature damage can make trees more susceptible to Xyleborus dispar infestations.

[4][5] Control Xyleborus dispar, as well as other species of ambrosia beetles, are often attracted by the scent of alcohol traps, due to the fact that stressed trees produce ethanol as a byproduct of microbial growth in the dead woody tissues.

[4][6] No effective method of biological control exists at present, but bacteria found on the adult has been proposed as a means of treatment.

[16][17] Typically pesticides are ineffective due to the protected nature of the galleries,[5] and very direct spraying is needed.