Preliminary biological studies of arctic Scolytidae were carried out during a scientific expedition of northwestern Alaska. Eight scolytid species were found associated with Picea glauca and a significant range extension for Dendroctonus punctatus was noted. Ips borealis host selection behavior was opportunistic as insects readily attacked injured spurce even if the attacks were unsuccessful. Most scolytid species studied flew whenever temperatures were above 15 degrees C and the typical more predictable flight patterns of temperate scolytids were not evident. D. rufipennis and D. punctatus, however, flew between 10.00 till 20.00 h. Ips borealis, D. rufipennis, and Polygraphus rufipennis responded to logs infested with I. borealis, an example of cross attraction. Uninfested billets were unattractive. Little overlap between scolytid species attacking the same host was observed, and Ips attack occurred primarily on the warmest quadrant of their host trees. The survival value of the different scolytid behaviors is discussed.