In comparison to the southern pine beetle (SPB), (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann), less is known about the three species of Ips bark beetles; the six-spined engraver, Ips calligraphus (Germar); the eastern five-spined engraver, Ips grandicollis (Eichhoff); and the small southern pine engraver, Ips avulses (Eichhoff). Ips commonly enter a stand following the first commercial thinning, feeding on slash and stressed individuals. However, the factors that influence Ips severity are poorly understood. Therefore, this project was designed to study the seasonal effects of first commercial thinning operations on Ips activity in north Mississippi loblolly pine stands. Treatments represented the most commonly used thinning practices in this area (i.e., a fifth row harvest with select, a third row harvest with select, and control). Treatments were duplicated three times per site and two sites were utilized to compare Ips movement to harvesting season.