Description
Odontotaenius disjunctus is a presocial species of Bess beetle that are residents across Eastern North America, found upwards into the temperate forests of Canada. They can be found in and under rotting deciduous logs, which is their primary source of food, often in family groups where the parents care for their larvae.
Its common names pertain to its appearance and its voice. The common name 'Bess' beetle seems to come from the Old English “buss” (“kiss”), a reference to the 'kiss' like sound the beetle makes.