Micrambe ulicis

The precise shape of the pronotum is one of the most important characters for identifying this species, the commonest of its genus, although other characters are also needed to rule out woodroffei.

Micrambe ulicis showing left edge of pronotum, Bawdeswell Heath (Norfolk, UK), 27th May 2021

Exactly one year before the one above, the following was the first Cryptophagid that I'd identified and, unlike the second which I found reasonably straightforward, I struggled to key this one even to family level. I ended up clearing the whole beetle in potassium hydroxide to get a better view of some of the tiny details like tarsal counts.

Micrambe ulicis showing right edge of pronotum, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 27th May 2020