The dispersal range and the flight behaviour of Ips sexdentatus in pine forest were studied using mark-recapture experiments. 9 614 beetles were marked by the elytra engraving method and released just after emergence. They were caught at different distances in pheromone baited traps. Less than 10% of the beetles failed to take off. Flyers were captured at distances up to 4 km. The main dispersal occurred during the first day. When wind speed rose > 3 m/s, beetles were mainly caught in the upwind direction at the shortest trapping distances and mainly in the downwind direction at the longest trapping distances. For the same trap density, the number of beetles captured increased with trapping distance. This was interpreted as a flight exercise requisite prior to chemotropic orientation. The trapping attraction radius was estimated at 80 m. These findings bring into question the use of the pheromone trapping system for the control and prognosis of Ips sexdentatus.