The Prioninae are a subfamily of Cerambycidae (long-horned beetles). They are typically large (25–70 mm) and usually brown or black. The males of a few genera sport large mandibles that are used in fights with other males, similar to stag beetles. These beetles are commonly nocturnal and are attracted to light. The majority of the Prioninae whose biology is known are borers whose larvae feed on rotting wood or roots.

Widespread on all continents, with particular abundance in tropical regions, they are among the largest local beetles. Their large size and their ease of finding, due to the fact that many of them live in marcescent trunks, mean that the larvae of many species are used as food in tropical regions.

Most species can be observed between April and September.