In Hokkaido (Japan), the spruce beetle (Ips typograpaus japonicus) kills standing spruce trees after selection cutting. The seasonal change in the number of beetles captured in 18–21 traps within or outside forest was analysed, with reference to a control strategy for this species in a bivoltine area. The number of beetles captured in traps had two peaks: one, which was small, in early June, and the other, which was a large peak, in July. However, the number of beetles captured in traps outside the forest had only one small peak, in June. The difference between the inside and outside of the forest was caused by the difference in the number of newly emerged beetles captured in traps. Beetles were distributed contagiously within the forest and there was no remarkable change in distribution pattern throughout seasons. Beetles were distributed at random in June when beetle activity was high outside forest. Overwintered beetles must undertake long‐range dispersal irrespective of whether they are within or outside of forest for finding suitable breeding materials. Nevertheless, the most important point is that newly emerged beetles stayed inside the forest and only a few individuals dispersed outside the forest. This study recommends that different control methods are adopted according to the seasons for the control of spruce beetles.