The red turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus valens LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is one of the most destructive invasive forest pests in China. Little is known about the biological characteristics of red turpentine beetle. Analysis of the frequency distribution has shown that red turpentine beetle's larvae have five instars with head capsule width 0.64, 0.83, 1.16, 1.45, and 1.99 mm, respectively. The ratio of increase of head capsule width is 1.33, which is consistent with Dyar's rule. The duration of egg, larval, and pupal is ≈10,84, and 10 d, respectively. After its emergence, the callow adult darkens to the typical reddish brown by the time it is ready to leave the tree; beetles begin to "fly out” at the 10th day and continue for 20 d, with the peak flight taking place on the 21st day. Pairs of red turpentine beetles introduced into pine bolts produced 106 offspring. Such basic information is important for developing management strategies to combat this invasive bark beetle in China.