[1][2][3] Cryptophilus adults are brown and slightly hairy beetles, 1.6-2.3 mm long and with 3-segmented antennal clubs.

They can be mistaken for larvae of Monotoma (Monotomidae) or Epuraea (Nitidulidae), which occur in similar habitats.

Cryptophilus larvae can be recognised by their mandibles, which lack a sub-apical accessory tooth and have a large, subtriangular prostheca.

[5] Cryptophilus occur in decaying plant matter (e.g. leaf litter, wood debris, compost heaps, grass cuttings, straw) and also in stored food products (e.g. cereals, beans, flour, dried fruit, nuts).

[4][6] These species belong to the genus Cryptophilus: (see also Cryptophilus integer (Heer, 1841) as a junior synonym of Micrambe abietis (Paykull, 1798) per Esser 2016, & Esser 2017, contra "integer" sensu auct.