17 Easy Bug Drawing Tutorials

Wild bees build their hives high in trees, out of the reach of humans and other animals. But for thousands of years, humans have raised and domesticated honey bees. They not only produce sweet, delicious honey, but they also provide the vital service of pollinating our food-producing plants.

Bees build honeycombs inside their hives. Amazingly, the comb segments are always perfect hexagons. They fill some comb with honey, while others are used for raising baby bees.

A bed bug is one creature you don't want to see on your next vacation. Use this drawing to educate your family about bedbugs, which sometimes live in hotel rooms. If you know what to look for, they are easy to avoid!

This moth may look like a beautiful butterfly, but can you spot the differences? The most obvious is the antennae. Butterflies have club-shaped antennae, while those of moths are shaped like feathers.

Look out, this cartoon mosquito looks hungry! Did you know? Only female mosquitoes bite. They must eat protein in order to lay eggs. Males, on the other hand, never bite - instead, they sip nectar from flowers like the butterflies!

Stag beetles are an impressive sight because of the oversized jaws or mandibles that they use to wrestle one another. Don't worry, though - these big bugs don't have the jaw strength to pinch you.

An ancient proverb advises people to watch the ant and learn how not to be lazy. These creatures are always working to feed and defend the anthill.

The praying mantis is so named because its front legs appear to be folded as if in prayer. But they are actually deadly hunting weapons lined with sharp spikes, ready to grab unsuspecting insect prey!

The ladybug or ladybird beetle is one of the most recognizable beetles in the world. They're also good for the garden, as they eat small pest insects called aphids.

Wait, didn't we say insects had six legs? how did this guy get in here? Caterpillars are the larvae or babies of butterflies. After spinning a cocoon, its body will literally liquefy and be reformed into that of a butterfly.

Monarchs are one of the most recognizable butterflies in North America. Learn about the amazing multi-generational migration they make from Canada to Mexico each year.

Did you know? Grasshoppers can use their leaper legs - their long rear legs - to jump long distances, but they also have concealed wings beneath their shells that allow them to fly. Grasshoppers also make "music" by rubbing their legs and wings together.

What's that annoying buzzing sound? It could be your pencil on paper as you draw this realistic housefly.

Can you identify all the parts of this realistic cartoon butterfly? It has four wings, a head, abdomen, and thorax, two antennae, two multifaceted eyes, and six legs.

This dragonfly is one of our realistic insect sketches. Dragonflies live near ponds and other bodies of water. They eat flies and mosquitos - up to 100 each day!

Did you know? Honeybee hives can be home to 20,000 and 80,000 bees. If you drew the beehive above, it's time to get sketching - that's a big family!

You can get 1,000 hugs from 10,000 lightning bugs if you want to draw that many. For a fun art project, fill a poster board with small firefly sketches, then punch a hole through the abdomen of each. Stick a fairy light through each hole and secure it with tape. You'll have a lightning bug backdrop that really twinkles!