The Numiri once coexisted with the Banea on the Banea homeworld. At some point the Numiri left the planet and settled on a nearby world. The two races eventually became involved in a war that was still being fought at least up until 2371, When USS Voyager encountered the Banea and Numiri. Voyager's guide, Neelix, indicated that the Numiri possessed technology equal to that of Voyager's with the exception of their shield's, which Neelix believed were slightly superior. Also revealed by Neelix was the secretive and combative nature of the Numiri, who were known to harass anyone travelling to or from the Banea homeworld.