Recent advances in DNA research have increased the necessity for museums to preserve not only morphological specimens but also their DNA, leading us to maintain tissue samples linked to specimens at −80 °C. DNA analysis has become an essential tool for taxonomic research and biodiversity assessment; however, freezer storage for all samples is impractical due to space limitations and operational costs. This creates a pressing need to develop more widely applicable DNA preservation methods. We investigated the comparative effects of traditional preservation methods versus DESS (DMSO/EDTA/saturated NaCl solution) preservation on both morphology and DNA integrity using museum specimens from various taxonomic groups. Our results demonstrated that DESS preservation maintained high-quality DNA fragments exceeding >15 kb at room temperature across all examined species, with nematode samples maintaining DNA integrity even after 10 years of storage. When preserving whole organisms, the optimal preservation solution conditions for maintaining both morphological features and DNA integrity varied among species. Notably, DNA integrity was maintained even after complete evaporation of the DESS solution. These findings suggest that DESS utilization for specimen DNA preservation is effective across many species, not only for long-term storage in environments without freezer facilities but also for temporary preservation until freezing.

A new species of scarab beetle, Termitotrox icarus sp. nov., is described from central Myanmar, being the third representative of the genus Termitotrox Reichensperger, 1915 from the Indo-Chinese Subregion of the Oriental Region. The majority of the type series was collected from the walls of fungus garden chambers built in the nests of the termite Odontotermes proformosanus Ahmad, 1965. Termitotrox icarus sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from the known Termitotrox as it possesses wing-shaped trichomes on the elytra, the more elongate habitus shape in dorsal view, the basomedian section of pronotum not protruding backwards, a pair of distinct costae on the pronotal basomedian section strongly developed, a median costa on anterior pronotal margin strongly developed, the elytral striae narrower than interstriae, the lack of trichomes at the base of elytral sutural stria, and a mid-range body length of 1.5–1.9 mm. The ‘carrying behavior’ by the host termites is reported for the first time for Termitotrox and a strategy for the dispersal of flightless termitophilous scarabs is hypothesized.

Megasybacodes brevitarsis Kakizoe, Maruyama & Masumoto, a new genus and new species of the tribe Rhyparini, is described based on a single female from Borneo. It is allied to the genus Sybacodes Fairmaire, 1896, but easily distinguished by its short protarsi, broad flattened basal tarsomeres of the meso- and metatarsi, broad flattened tibiae, and wrinkled pronotal and elytral surfaces. Checklist of rhyparine species from Borneo is also provided.

Sphaeraphodius gaohani Kakizoe, Jiang & Wang, a new genus and new species of the tribe Aphodiini, is described based on two female specimens from Guangxi, China. This new genus differs considerably from any previously known genera of Aphodiini by dorsally swollen body covered by considerably long setae, and lack of transverse setiferous carinae on outer surfaces of meso- and metatibiae. This new taxon is found sympatrically with the termite Macrotermes sp. in the field. Therefore, this species is perhaps termitophilous, but we cannot conclude it at this time due to the insufficient information available in the field.