Development of the double‐spined spruce bark beetle Ips duplicatus (Sahlberg, 1836) was investigated using the sandwich method under long‐day conditions (LD 18 : 6 h) at 10 constant temperatures: 7, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 33, 35 and 39 °C. The method proved unsuitable at lower temperatures (7–12 °C), where high mortality occurred. At higher temperatures, development from egg to eclosion of adults shortened from 39.0 days at 15 °C to 10.3 days at 30 °C. Temperatures over 33 °C were lethal to all eggs, larvae and pupae. The developmental rate increased linearly at temperatures between 15 and 25 °C. Stage‐specific parameters, such as upper and lower developmental thresholds and optimum temperature for development, were determined by linear and nonlinear (Logan‐Lactin) models. Lower developmental thresholds obtained from nonlinear regression were calculated to be 9 °C (eggs), 6.1 °C (larvae), 6.9 °C (pupae) and 6.3 °C (development from eggs to pupae). Upper developmental thresholds for all stages oscillated around 39 °C and optimal temperatures oscillated around 30 °C. The rapid development of I. duplicatus at 15 and 30 °C 10 and 4 days faster than Ips typographus (L.), respectively may explain its recent outbreak dynamics and low effectivity of preventive control measures