In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw a Soldier Beetle in 7 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 Soldier Beetle.
Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.
How to Draw a Soldier Beetle - Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: The soldier beetle's face looks like a curved finger with a black fingernail at the tip. Add two long skinny Ts for antenna.
Step 2: Draw an oval for the eye.
Step 3: Next, draw the wing. It is a long skinny oval with a tiny break in one line, and a little curve at the tip.
Step 4: Now, draw the body. Start from the bottom and work your way to the middle of your beetle. Add line details to make it look more real.
Step 5: Then add the legs. The first two lines are fairly straight, and the back leg is bent.
Step 6: The legs on the other side are similar.
Step 7: Draw a branch for your soldier beetle to sit on and you're done! They are called soldier beetles because they can have a pattern on their backs that looks like the British redcoat military uniform!
Interesting Facts about the Soldier Beetle
Soldier Beetles received their name because of their bright color pattern that are reminiscent of British soldier uniforms. They are found all across the United States, Canada, and a few areas of Mexico they’re an accidentally invasive species finding their way across borders as larvae or adults. Soldier Beetles are soft bodied and resemble lightning bugs but have no light-producing organs. They have indentations in each body segment that gives them rippled appearance along their slender worm like bodies.
Did you know?
- Soldier Beetles are nicknamed leatherwings because of cloth-like wing covers that give them bright colors.
- Soldier Beetles are very beneficial to humans, eating pest insects like aphids, grasshoppers, and moths.
- Soldier Beetle larvae spend the winter under loose debris and bark or buried in damp soil.
- Soldier Beetles wait for prey in flowers like goldenrod where they also feed on pollen.
- Like other beetles Soldier Beetles are harmless but invade homes during the winter.
Lesson plan note: Solider Beetles are beneficial to gardens, eating pest insects. Have students ask their parents to plant flowers like goldenrods and hydrangeas to see if they can attract Soldier Beetles to their areas. Then have them write what kind of impact they had on pest insects at home.
How to Draw a Soldier Beetle – Step-by-Step Tutorial