Clip beetle / Legends Clip beetles were small , non - sentient insects that were created by the Yuuzhan Vong species . In existence by 27 ABY , the beetles had an abdominal shell , a head with a pair of mandibles , and its flesh and shell were both nutritious . A clip beetle ' s head could be used as a natural type of stitching for wounds ; the beetle could be encouraged to bite the flesh on either side of the wound , and the rest of the beetle ' s body would then be removed . The head would be left in place with the jaws still holding the wound shut . Biology and appearance . Clip beetles were a species of non - sentient insects that had an abdominal shell , as well as a head with a pair of mandibles . The beetle was small enough that an average - sized Human could crack a clip beetle ' s shell open between a thumb and the first knuckle on one of his or her hands . The flesh of a clip beetle was pale purple in coloration and was prized because of the significant amount of protein s and fats present in it . To some Humans , clip beetle flesh tasted like Mon Cala ice - lobster . The shells of the beetles were also high in nutrition . Behavior . Clip beetles were able to survive in the Nursery , the central chamber within a Yuuzhan Vong seedship , which contained swamps , jungles , and hills . When flesh was presented to them , clip beetles attacked it ferociously , biting it with their mandibles to hold on . Clip beetles could be persuaded to let their jaw hold lapse if they were tickled near the head joint . Because of their tight grip with their jaws , clip beetles were renowned by the Yuuzhan Vong species for their use as natural stitches with which to close wounds . A clip beetle could be taken and placed close to an open wound , and the insect would latch onto the flesh on either side . By twisting the body attached to the head , the two parts would separate , leaving the head with its jaws closing the wound shut . Wounds could take up to twenty - three clip beetle heads to close . History . Clip beetles were genetically created by the sentient Yuuzhan Vong species sometime prior to 27 ABY , by which time the Yuuzhan Vong were involved in the Yuuzhan Vong War , a conflict that erupted when they invaded the galaxy of the New Republic . The Yuuzhan Vong prized clip beetles for both their nutritional value and their ability to be used as a natural stitch . During the Yuuzhan Vong War , clip beetles were present in the Nursery , which was a playground for infant dhuryam s who had telepathic abilities . There , the captured Jedi Jacen Solo made use of clip beetles to both feed himself and close the wounds of fellow slaves . By 27 ABY , the Yuuzhan Vong fed nutritional clip beetle shells to the immense ganadote creatures to help the creatures grow . Clip beetles were also present on the planet Coruscant in 28 ABY . The Yuuzhan Vong had captured Coruscant from the New Republic , and disgraced Yuuzhan Vong Executor Nom Anor used clip beetles to help close the wounds of the warrior Kunra . Behind the scenes . Clip beetles were first mentioned in " " , a 2002 installment of " " series by Aaron Allston . The beetles later appeared in two other books in that same series : " " , released in 2002 and written by Matthew Stover , and 2003 ' s " " , by Sean Williams and Shane Dix . Clip beetles later received their own entry in 2008 ' s " The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia " .