i just spawned all of the jars using the console - here's screenies of all the "runes"

On closer inspection and a little re-orientation they actually look like new roman font type, (That is to say, as we use on this forum) cut with a knife so it forms straight lines only:
http://i40.tinypic.com/b5fo00.jpg

They appear to read:
Bee: DKT
Butterfly: PIG
Torchbug: ZWKT
Dragonfly: JWT? (JWX?)
Moth: Mt

They're part of the publius enigma.

Hello good folk. I'm the author of this post:

http://www.reddit.com/r/skyrim/comments/nklj2/you_know_those_runes_on_the_lids_of_the_bug_jars/c39z2gn

I might be wrong on a few runes, but I'm pretty confident on the whole thing. The dilemma is that, there are so many possible interpretations for the elder futhark runes, that really it's quite hard to make something out of it.

I'm also confident that there is some meaning behind the runes, judging at how in depth TES lore can get, I doubt Beth would have just added some runes for no reason. Especially runes as dark as Elder Futhark runes which correspond to our version of "Nords", old Germanic people.

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1321726-skyrim-conspiracy-theory/

Ok, now I have to decide if . . .

A. I google them to find out where they are the easy way.

B. Meticulously search for them, which may take days, but be more rewarding.

Cool finds, though.

Has anyone thought that it might be something that Bethesda started and didn't finish? So they just left these jars in and they mean absolutely nothing.

Yeah Bethesda is laughing at all of us right now.

I think Bethesda just put them in the game as a joke, laughing at putting 'bugs' in the game on purpose.

Holy Bug Jar, you REALLY put some thought behind those runes. I wonder if one of the devs is sitting back, rubbing his hands with a grin, because he though to put a few meaningless scribbles on the bottom of the lids. Let the TES people chew on that one... LOL

I love a good mystery and I love the fact that this game can really get us to become philosophers, archaeologists and historians. This is where the real strength of TES games lie, the lore and the opportunity to explore and discover ancient mysteries.

Your dissection of the various runes is most impressive!