Let’s Get Buggy: Juliana Bug Figurals — Part 3

September 6, 2026

Rare Antennae, Exceptions, and the Cast Bug

In the first two parts of our Juliana bug series, we looked at the more familiar DeLizza & Elster bug constructions and the curved wire antennae that appear on many of them.

To finish the series, we’re going to look at the exceptions.

These are the bugs that don’t follow the most common antenna pattern—and because there are so few of them, they can be especially useful to learn.

Rhinestones on the Antennae

Rhinestones on the antennae of Juliana bugs are quite rare.

This feature is seen much more often on DeLizza & Elster butterflies, which have their own construction rules. Among the bug figurals, only few known designs use this style of rhinestone-tipped antenna.

The Eight-Legged Bug

The first is the eight-legged bug.

This design can be found in a number of different color combinations, but its construction remains recognizable.

Look closely at the antennae. Instead of the simple curved wire antennae seen on most Juliana bugs, this design has rhinestones incorporated into the antenna construction.

The Caterpillar

The second bug with rhinestone antennae is the caterpillar.

The example shown here uses jade-colored glass rhinestones, but the caterpillar was made in additional color combinations as well.

Other examples and colorways of this design can also be found in Juliana Jewelry – The Last Generation.

The Large Two-Winged Bug

There is one more important antenna exception.

The large two-winged bug has curved antennae that extend more to the sides rather than curling upward in the usual manner.

This style of antenna is also associated with some DeLizza & Elster butterfly designs.

Another difference is the wire itself. These antennae do not have the same smooth appearance as the more typical upward-curled wire antennae found on many Juliana bug figurals.

Like many D&E designs, this bug can be found in multiple color combinations.

The Cast Bug

The final bug in our group is completely different from the others.

Rather than being built from the familiar combination of rhinestone settings, wire elements, and layered components, this design uses a cast-metal body with glued-in decorative accents.

Its construction is distinctive enough that it really needs to be considered separately from the rhinestone bug families we have been studying.

The cast bug was also produced in different colors.

Juliana Bug Identification: The Rules to Remember

Now that we’ve worked through the different bug families, here are the most useful construction rules to keep in mind when evaluating a possible DeLizza & Elster bug:

All D&E rhinestone bugs have antennae. Butterflies have their own identification rules.
Most D&E rhinestone bugs use wire antennae curled upward.
The important exceptions are the caterpillar, eight-legged bug, and large two-winged bug.
D&E rhinestone bugs with legs generally follow the upward-curled wire antenna rule, with the large two-winged bug being the notable exception.
Many D&E bug figurals do not have distinct “eyes.” The design is often defined by the body, wings, legs, and antennae rather than by separate stones or settings intended to represent eyes.
D&E rhinestone bugs do not have trembler wings mounted on springs to create fluttering movement.
D&E rhinestone bugs do not use rhinestone chain for antennae. Again, butterflies are a separate category with different rules.
Cast-metal D&E bugs are a separate construction type and should not be evaluated by all of the same rules used for the rhinestone bugs.

Look at Construction Before Color

One of the recurring lessons in identifying Juliana jewelry is that color alone is rarely enough.

Many manufacturers used the same rhinestone colors, shapes, and effects that DeLizza & Elster used.

Construction is where the stronger clues are found.

When examining a possible Juliana bug, look at the antennae, the body construction, the wings, and the legs—and don’t be concerned if the bug has no obvious eyes. Many authentic D&E bug figurals were designed without distinct eyes.

Those little details often tell you far more than the stones do.

And with that, we’ve finished our three-part look at Juliana bug figurals.