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D. punctatus has a uniform brown color. It has a smooth frons with deep punctures and no granules. Large punctures are found in the declivity. These features distinguish it from D. rufipennis and D. murrayanae, its closest North American relatives. This species is almost identical to D. micans, its European counterpart.

This is an uncommon species and very little is known about how it breeds in natural habitats. Much of the information is taken from experimental habitats and inferred from related species such as Dendroctonus micans. This species overwinters as an adult or a mature larvae. Females will create galleries close together within one tree. Males will search out females within the galleries, and cross community breeding can take place. Eggs are laid 3 weeks after the galleries are built. Larvae hatch and then feed gregariously. The pupal stage lasts 10 to 12 days. It takes this species 2 years to complete its lifecycle in Northern Canada, it may take less in warmer climates. This species is seen in flight at the same time as D. rufipennis, and at times is mistaken for the spruce beetle.

This beetle is found across Canada - Yukon Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. It is also found in the US in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, New york, Pennsylvania and West Virginia).