They are the type genus of the Monochamini, a tribe in the huge long-horned beetle subfamily Lamiinae, but typically included in the Lamiini today.

If sawyer beetles infect freshly cut pine logs, they can cause a 30–40% loss in value due to the tunnels their larvae bore.

[2] Some species are known to transport phoretic Bursaphelenchus nematodes, including B. xylophilus which causes pine wilt disease.

[6] The pine wood nematode Bursaphalenchus xylophilous is transmitted by several Monochamus species, and its life cycle is tied with that of its vector.

[6] When nematode-infested adult Monochamus oviposit in dying or dead trees, the slits they make in the bark for their eggs also allow nematodes to enter.

[7] Additionally, Monochamus compete with bark beetles for resources, prey on them (intraguild predation) and use their semiochemicals as kairomones.