The bark beetle Dendroctonus rhizophagus is endemic of northwestern Mexico. This species colonize only young trees of Pinus engelmannii and P. arizonica. During their life cycle and initial attack on a living tree the insects are exposed to huge concentrations of host-plant-produced defensive toxins. Like other insects, bark beetles probably overcome these defenses partially through enzyme-mediated detoxification of host compounds. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are well known for their role in biosynthesis of endogenous compounds as well as in xenobiotic metabolism. Using a PCR-based strategy we have isolated cDNAs of cytochrome P450 genes from regions of alimentary canal (foregut, midgut and hindgut) and antennae, followed by their stimulation with α-pinene, (S)-(-)α, (S)-(-)β, (R)-(+)α enantiomers and mineral oil as a negative control. We found CYP4, CYP6 and CYP9 genes expressed in all the anatomical regions, with different stimuli. The CYP4 sequences were highly similar (86%) with Ips paraconfusus. Differential expression of CYP4 was showed with α-pinene and enantiomers stimulation. With α-pinene in the midgut we found more CYP4 variants (CYP4G27, CYP4BG1 and CYP4BD1) than in foregut and hindgut (CYPAY1). However, CYP4BD1 and CYPAY1 variants were expressed with (S)-(-)α, (S)-(-)β and CYP4AY1 with (R)-(+)α pinene enantiomers in the whole alimentary canal, Regardless of stimuli, CYP4BD1 was the only variant expressed in the antennae.