In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw a Dung Beetle in 9 easy steps - great for kids and novice artists.
The images above represent how your finished drawing is going to look and the steps involved.
Below are the individual steps - you can click on each one for a High Resolution printable PDF version.
At the bottom you can read some interesting facts about the Dung Beetle.
Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.
How to Draw a Dung Beetle - Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: To start drawing the Dung Beetle ,begin with a shape sort of like the number 8, but with the center left open.
Step 2: Next, draw the head, which is round at the bottom with little spikes on the top. Dung Bettle have a great sense of smell, that's how they find the dung they need!
Step 3: For the antennae, draw two small ovals on the outside of the head connected by two small lines.
Step 4: For the foreleg, draw a shape similar to a comb as shown in the picture. They use their front legs to crawl along the ground, while the hind legs collect dung and form into a large ball.
Step 5: Now for the left hind legs, draw some long curved lines that come inward towards the bottom of the Dung Beetle. The bottom-most leg is a lot longer than the middle leg.
Step 6: Now add the legs on the bottom right similar to the bottom left legs.
Step 7: Add the right foreleg to make it look like the one you drew on the left earlier.
Step 8: Next, add small lines for the hairs all over the legs of the Dung Beetle.
Step 9: Finally, draw lines all the way down the bottom of the body to make the wing covers. Color your Dung Beetle black.
Interesting Facts about Dung Beetles
Dung Beetles have a dirty job. They are nature’s pooper scoopers. Dung Beetles collect dung so they have enough to eat. When they get ready to lay eggs, the Dung Beetles will roll dung to a soft place and bury it. Then they lay their eggs into the dung and let it sit. Inside the dung the eggs hatch and the larvae eat the dung around them. Then the larvae build a cocoon and emerge as a beetle. Once they wake up, they dig themselves out of the dirt.
Did you know?
- Dung Beetles have a very good sense of smell. That’s how they find the dung they need.
- Mites will use a Dung Beetle as transportation to a new place.
- In ancient Egypt a Dung Beetle was called a Scarab and used in a lot of their art and folklore.
- Dung Beetles live for 3 years.
- Dung Beetles can follow the stars to get where they are going.
Lesson Plan Note: Dung Beetles are a great partner subject with Ancient Egyptian culture. Find some of the old myths about Dung Beetles and have your student’s illustrate it. If the class is high school, then have them write an essay on the role of a Dung Beetle in Egyptian folklore.
How to Draw a Dung Beetle – Step-By-Step Tutorial