Arch grubs were eaten by the sentient Geonosian species also native to the world, and were a popular meal during Meckgin, a Geonosian holiday that celebrated Geonosis's devotion to industry. They were also popular as a lightly grilled snack food at the Petranaki Arena, a Geonosian gladiatorial and execution arena at the Stalgasin hive. The smell of the grilling grubs could be potent for non-Geonosisans at the arena.
Columns of smoke from grilling arch grubs were visible in the Petranaki Arena during the Battle of Geonosis.
In 22 BBY, arch grubs were lightly grilled in the walkways of the Petranaki Arena stands when the attempted execution of Senator Padmé Amidala and the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker was held there. The columns of smoke from the grilling grubs were still rising when the executions were interrupted by the First Battle of Geonosis breaking out in the arena. Arch grubs were also grilled at the Eve of Meckgin Festival in the arena in 19 BBY. Their odor was wafted into the breath mask of the Galactic Republic Lieutenant Commander Orson Krennic in the arena's seats by the wing-flapping of Geonosians in the upper-caste galleries following an announcement by Archduke Poggle the Lesser.
In the current Star Wars canon, arch grubs were first mentioned in the 2015 reference book Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know. The grubs originated in the Star Wars Legends continuity, where they were first mentioned in the 2003 reference book Inside the Worlds of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, which was written by Curtis Saxton and Simon Beecroft.
- Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
- Star Wars: Complete Locations
- Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know, Updated and Expanded