Bugtown, previously called the Farnel Research Facility or Lab 352, was a genetic research center situated in the Broken Valley of Balmorra, a planet, near Lake Farnell. Before the Great Galactic War, the facility's primary function involved conducting experiments on Colicoid DNA provided by the Colicoid Creation Nest, resulting in the creation of weaponizable, mutated Colicoids. Nevertheless, the Sith Empire heavily shelled large portions of Balmorra during the conflict, and the Colicoids gained their freedom amid the resulting pandemonium.
The insectoid alien species swiftly seized control of the facility, eliminating all personnel and converting the majority of the structures into nesting sites. As a result of the Colicoid infestation, the location became widely recognized as "Bugtown," with the infestation progressively extending to other regions of Balmorra. During the Galactic War, the Galactic Republic created a foothold at Bugtown, known as Farnel Outpost.