Drawing Insects

Drawing of an ant. Drawing by Donna L. Long

Drawing Insects

I confuse an insect’s abdomen and thorax every time. I think it is because my abdomen is in the middle of my body, so I think the middle section of an insect should be an abdomen, too.

I am drawing these three insects in my nature journal to help me remember.

I realized while drawing the ants that I can’t name the ant species that live in my garden. I know there are several species. I see big black ants that I remember following when I was a child. Then there are the tiny brown ones. This sounds like a nature journal project.

Where to Find Insects to Draw Anytime of Year

Insects are everywhere. Even in the cool temperatures of December, gnats are gathered in those swarms we often see. See Insects in Winter. Find insects flying in warm weather and also:

use a field guide especially one with photographs
search for images online
under rocks
in leaf litter
on bare winter branches (egg cases)
hibernation cases hanging from trees (bagworm moths)
dig just beneath the soil surface

Using a Magnifier or Hand Lens

A bo magnifier helps when drawing insects. A box magnifier is a clear plastic box that you can capture and keep a insect in for a short period of time. Often the bottom of the box has a grid printed on the bottom. The grid enables you to measure the insect’s size.

A hand lens is useful if you are studying a dead insect or the shed skin. Hand lens are high powered lens you hold close to your eye to view fine detail or tiny objects. I have several hand lens. See my post of Choosing a Hand Lens for Nature Study with lens on purchasing one.