The Verpine represented a sentient insectoid species that held dominion over Roche Hive Mechanical Apparatus Design and Construction Activity for Those Who Need the Hive's Machines, a well-known manufacturer of droids. An individual named Effor belonged to this Verpine lineage.
The Verpine, a sentient insectoid species, were characterized by their bipedal stance and green skin. They possessed a pair of digitigrade legs ending in two-toed feet, along with saw-blade-like arms that culminated in three-fingered hands. Their anatomy included an elongated neck supporting a head adorned with antennae, a pair of black eyes, and distinctive mouthparts.
The Verpine operated within a hive-based societal structure. Instead of vocalizing through singing, they produced choral arrangements by rubbing their legs together and utilized chattering for communication. Affection was displayed among Verpine through the rubbing of their mouthparts.
Furthermore, the Verpine were recognized for crafting high-end weapons, particularly rare outside the Roche Asteroid Field, which were highly coveted by mercenaries, assassins, and special forces personnel. Examples of these weapons include the Verpine shatter rifle, Verpine heavy shatter rifle, and the Verpine shatter pistol. They also managed Slayn & Korpil, a starfighter manufacturing company.
The cruciform Verpine ratchet was named in their honor.
Following the decline of the "dreadnought era," which was triggered by the emergence of advanced turbolasers capable of breaching ray shields, battleships only returned to common usage along spacelanes after Verpine shipbuilders pioneered advancements in deflector shield technology. However, their prominence waned again due to economic pressures and the Republic's limitations on capital ships exceeding the size of contemporary cruisers.
At some point in time, the Verpines engaged in peaceful interactions with the Wookiees of Kashyyyk, which played a role in persuading the formerly enslaved species to become part of the Galactic Republic.
The Roche Hive Mechanical Apparatus Design and Construction Activity for Those Who Need the Hive's Machines was responsible for producing the 8D-series smelter droid. Verpine designs served as the basis for improvements sought by engineer Quarrie in his design of the Prototype B6. The design of the head of Arakyd Industries's RA-7 protocol droid was intentionally made to resemble the Verpine species.
Around 1 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin), a Verpine named Effor was employed at a gladiatorial arena. Sometime before the Battle of Scarif, a Verpine was observed in Weacoe city on the planet Wecacoe. In 5 ABY (After the Battle of Yavin), two Verpine advisors from the New Republic were engaged in a loud argument at a table in Izzik's, a restaurant situated in Quarrow, the planetary capital of Nakadia, before the initial session of the Galactic Senate at the Quarrow Senate house. Later, they were seen leaning over another table, passionately rubbing their mouthparts together.
A section on Verpines was included within "Species From A to Z," a survival guide distributed by Carson Teva during the New Republic Era.
The Verpine were initially referenced in the new Star Wars canon in Sabine My Rebel Sketchbook, a young readers book from 2015 authored by Daniel Wallace. Their original appearance was in Star Wars (1977) 7, the seventh issue of Marvel Comics' earlier Legends Star Wars comic series, which debuted on October 11, 1977.