Dendroctonus ponderosae, commonly known as the mountain pine beetle, is a small bark beetle native to North America. It primarily infests Ponderosa pine and other species of pine trees, causing significant damage to forests. The beetle is about 5 to 10 millimeters long and has a dark, cylindrical body. The life cycle of Dendroctonus ponderosae includes egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Adult beetles bore into the bark of trees to lay their eggs, and the larvae feed on the inner bark, disrupting the tree's ability to transport nutrients and water. This can lead to tree death and widespread forest decline.