The genus Carphoborus is widely distributed in the Holarctic realm. It occurs from the northern limits of tree growth south in the Old World to India and northern Africa and in the New World to Baja California, New Mexico, Mississippi, and Florida.

All of the North American species breed in the inner bark of coniferous trees of the genera Pinus, Picea, and Pseudotsuga. Branches that are being shaded out or are broken, but still hanging in the tree, are generally preferred for the construction of galleries. A few species have been reported from slash; however, they are usually not aggressive or abundant enough to survive in competition ivith other bark beetles normally found in slash. The economic importance of the genus is not great; the hahit of breeding in the unthrifty lower branches of coniferous trees contributes slightly toward accelerating the natural pruning of the trees and consequently aids in the production of a higher quality of timber.