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The frons has fine punctures with sparse granules. The pronotum has coarse punctures. Has a narrow epistomal process. The declivity is steep and convex. The striae on the declivity are weak impressions and have minute punctures on the declivity. This species has distinct male genitalia. Size ranges from 5.0 mm to 7.3 mm. Pronotum is dark brown and elytra are reddish brown. The distinct punctures on the frons and pronotum allow it to be distinguished from D. punctatus. The distinct frons, male genitalia and galleries distinguish it from D. rufipennis.

In the spring, overwintering larvae and both young and adults will become active as the local weather begins to warm. Females will emerge and begin to build new galleries in the phloem region of the tree. The galleries are vertical and are shaped irregularly. The galleries have a main region and two or three shallow expansions along the sides of the gallery are excavated. No egg niches are excavated. They will be joined by the male and mating will occur. Eggs are laid in groups of 20 to 50 and after about 10 days they hatch. Females may re-emerge from the gallery and find a new host tree to start a new gallery if sufficient time remains in the season. Larvae feed in groups and will feed in irregular patterns characteristic of the species, leaving some parts of the phloem uneaten. It takes approximately one year for larvae to develop.