How to Draw a Beetle (Easy Step by Step)
A beetle is a fun first bug to draw because it is built from big, simple shapes. You will use an egg shape for the shell, a small round head and middle body, and curvy lines for the feelers, horns and legs. The smiling face makes it look friendly instead of creepy.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a beetle step by step
How to Draw a Beetle · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The big shell
Start with a big egg shape that is pointy at the bottom. This is the beetle's back, and it is the biggest part of your drawing.
Step 3: The shell line
Draw one straight line down the middle of the shell, from the top edge to the pointy bottom. Now the shell is split into two halves.
Step 4: Head and middle body
On top of the shell, draw a small round head with two dot eyes and a little smile. Add a curved feeler on each side of the head, then draw the sides of a smaller body shape reaching down from the head to the shell.
Step 5: The neck line
Draw a short curved line across the bottom of the head, from one side to the other. It splits the head from the middle body, like a collar.
Step 6: Curly horns
Draw two big horns that start at the top sides of the head, sweep up and out, and then hook back toward each other at the tips. They look like a pair of tongs.
Step 7: Top legs
Draw two legs that start on the sides of the middle body. Go straight out, then bend down.
Step 8: Middle legs
Add two legs that start on the sides of the shell, near the top. Let each one go out wide and then bend down.
Step 9: Bottom legs
Finish with two legs that start low on the sides of the shell. Curve them out and down toward the bottom corners of the page.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your beetle? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a worm or how to draw a mushroom next.
Tips for drawing a beetle
- Draw the big egg shape first and leave room around it. The legs need space on both sides.
- The horns are the trickiest part. Start each one at the side of the head, go up in a big curve, and then hook the tip back inward.
- Draw the legs in matching pairs, one on the left, then one on the right, so the beetle looks balanced.
Free beetle coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this beetle coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your beetle drawing
Try shiny green or deep blue for the shell, with a darker color for the head, horns and legs. For a twist, give your beetle rainbow stripes on each half of the shell.
Beetle fun fact for kids
Beetles are the biggest group of animals on Earth. There are more kinds of beetles than any other kind of animal, and their hard front wings cover and protect the thin back wings they use for flying.
Questions about drawing a beetle
What shapes do I need to draw a beetle?
You need one big egg shape for the shell and a small round head and middle body. Curvy lines make the feelers, the horns and the six legs.
How do I make my beetle look cuter?
Make the eyes a little bigger and keep the smile. You can also make the horns a bit smaller and rounder.
How many legs does a beetle have?
A beetle has six legs, three on each side. In this drawing there is one leg from the middle body, one from the top of the shell and one from the bottom of the shell on each side.
