How to Draw a Beetle

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Learn how to draw a great looking Beetle with easy, step-by-step drawing instructions, and video tutorial.

By following the simple steps, you too can easily draw a perfect Beetle.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing a Beetle

How to Draw a Great Looking Beetle for Kids and Beginners - Step 1

How to Draw a Beetle Step 01

1. Begin by outlining the beetle's head. Use curved lines to enclose the irregular shape. Note the three bulges at the front of the head.

Easy Beetle Drawing - Step 2

How to Draw a Beetle Step 02

2. Next, outline the thorax or midsection of the beetle. Use a long curved line to enclose the irregular shape.

Easy Beetle Drawing - Step 3

How to Draw a Beetle Step 03

3. Use a long curved line to enclose the irregular shape of the abdomen, leaving a small amount of space between the abdomen and the thorax. Connect the two body segments with short lines.

Easy Beetle Drawing - Step 4

How to Draw a Beetle Step 04

4. Enclose half-circle shapes on the sides of the head to indicate the beetle's eyes. Then, contour each segment with curved lines at the edges. Notice, too, the curved line that spans the center of the abdomen. This indicates the opening in the beetle's shell that allows it to unfurl its wings.

Easy Beetle Drawing - Step 5

How to Draw a Beetle Step 05

5. Draw the beetle's legs. Extend a curved line and double it back upon itself to form the first leg section for each leg. Then, extend another curved line and double it back upon itself. Finally, draw the beetle's foot. Extend a curved line from the bottom of the leg. Then, draw a jagged zigzag line to connect the opposite side to the leg. These serrations allow the beetle to grip and climb.

Easy Beetle Drawing - Step 6

How to Draw a Beetle Step 06

6. Draw the legs of the opposite side. For each of the two leg sections, extend a curved line and double it back upon itself. For the foot, extend a curved line. Then, connect its tip to the leg using a jagged zigzag line.

Easy Beetle Drawing - Step 7

How to Draw a Beetle Step 07

7. Draw the beetle's mandibles or pincers. For each, extend a long curved line from the front of the head. Then, use a series of curved lines that meet at gentle or jagged points to form the inner side of the mandible.

Add More Details to Your Beetle Picture - Step 8

How to Draw a Beetle Step 08

8. Draw the palps, appendages near the mouth used for touch and taste. For each palp, extend a short curved line and double it back upon itself. Repeat this three times for each palp. Contour the mandibles with curved lines.

Complete the Outline of Your Beetle Drawing - Step 9

How to Draw a Beetle Step 09

9. Draw the antennae. For each antenna, extend a pair of curved lines from the side of the head. Connect them at the ends with a set of jagged lines.

Color Your Beetle Drawing

How to Draw a Beetle Step 10

Color your stag beetle. They come in many colors, including black, brown, and green.

Complete your insect collection.

For more great Drawing Ideas tutorials, see the 100 Best Drawing Ideas Tutorials post.

Easy, step by step Beetle drawing tutorial
How to Draw a Beetle Pinterest Image

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Learn More About The Beetle Drawing

The stag beetle or pinching bug describes about 900 species of beetles native to North and South America, Australia, Asia, and elsewhere. They are so named because their "elaborately branched and toothed mandibles" resemble the antlers of a stag or male deer.

Most stag beetles are less than 2 inches (40 millimeters) long, but one species can exceed 4 inches (100 millimeters).

In Europe and North America, stag beetles are often the largest native bug. Only males carry the enlarged mandibles, which they use to wrestle over territory, females, or food sources.

Most don't have the strength to pinch a human. However, they may bite with their chewing mouthparts.

Because of their beauty and perceived strength, stag beetles have long featured in artwork. Carvings in ancient Egypt often featured beetles, which were regarded as an object of worship.

Pliny the Elder, an ancient historian, reports that the beetles themselves were worn as amulets. In recent times, they have appeared on the postage stamps of some countries.

Scroll down for a downloadable PDF of this tutorial.

Would you like to draw a realistic cartoon of a stag beetle? This easy, step-by-step insect drawing tutorial is here to show you how.

All you will need is a pen, pencil, or marker and a sheet of paper. You may also wish to color your finished drawing.

If you liked this drawing tutorial, see also the following guides: Ladybug drawing, Bee Hive drawing, and Hatchimal drawing.

Beetle Drawing Tutorial - Easy & Fun Printable Pages

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