Geonosian Geonosians were a winged , semi - insectoid species native to the planet Geonosis that created nests in large , spire - like colonies on their homeworld . They were nearly exterminated by the Empire at some point between 14 BBY and 3 BBY . Only a single Geonosian , Klik - Klak , survived the Imperial sterilization of their planet . Society and culture . A caste - based species separated by positions of drones and warriors , they are born into hives with each led by a queen . The queen lays eggs for the hive , and provides orders to the public leaders of Geonosis . One such queen , Karina the Great , was even able to control sentient beings , including her own kind , via the use of brain worm s . Drones were capable of becoming warriors if they proved themselves worthy by successfully defeating other drones in an arena . They also celebrated Meckgin , a day in which they celebrated the virtues of industry . Geonosians would get drunk by eating a special fungus which reacted with their stomach fluids to create a body odor which created euphoria . Naturally industrious and barbaric , they were also known to take upon construction projects from outside parties , as was the case when Baktoid Armor Workshop approached them to design factories for the Trade Federation . Productivity was key to Geonosian society , and if not kept in check with enough tasks , hives could devolve into civil war and result in the deaths of thousands of Geonosians . History . Clone Wars . During the reign of Archduke Poggle the Lesser , Geonosis became a member of the Confederacy of Independent Systems . The Separatists used the Geonosians to create the Separatist Droid Army . This eventually led to a large battle between the Galactic Republic and the Separatists on Geonosis . The Geonosians were the ones responsible for creating the plans for the Death Star . Imperial Era . Following the Clone Wars , the Geonosians were forced by the Galactic Empire to assist in the construction of the Death Star . When the Geonosians were unable to work out how to refine the superweapon ' s superlaser , the Empire brought in Galen Walton Erso to finish the job . After the Death Star ' s hyperdrive was operational , the Empire then sterilized the Geonosian species and their homeworld . This act of genocide exterminated all but one of the native Geonosian population . In 2 BBY , Saw Gerrera , the Spectres , and the former Clone Captain Rex uncovered evidence that the Empire had perpetrated genocide against the Geonosian species . They also helped Klik - Klak , the sole survivor of the sterilization , to escape with the last Geonosian queen egg into the depths of Geonosis . The rebels informed Senator Bail Organa and Commander Jun Sato who believed that news of the Empire ' s atrocities on Geonosis would sway more worlds to the rebellion . Behind the scenes . A termite infestation in George Lucas ' house inspired the Geonosians . The basic design of the Geonosians originate from early designs of the Neimoidian s which resembled B1 battle droid s . The sounds of Geonosians were created from mixed recordings of mating penguins and flying foxes in . The inspiration for the Geonosians ' role as the ones assigned to construct the Death Star came from a scene in the 1994 film " Clerks " , in which the main characters ponder over the lives of the " independent contractors " during the construction of the second Death Star .