Ladybug watercolor is an easy way to add a pop of color to your home or office. The speckled little insect has become a symbol of spring, appearing in nursery rhymes and folklore around the world. Ladybugs (also called ladybird beetles) are actually beetles in the family Coleoptera, and while many people don’t like beetles, they’re one of the least harmful insects.
The ladybug gets its colorful stripes and spots from a combination of pigments in the female’s wing covers, or elytra. She lays her eggs on plant leaves, and the larvae hatch within a few days. They’re hungry — they’ll devour about 350 to 400 aphids in the 2 weeks it takes them to grow into adulthood.
Learn how to paint this lovely little insect in our free watercolor painting mini-course. It’s available to Patreon members and new subscribers. You can also follow along on Instagram. Sign up here to get instant access!