They are not aliens, but word is they were designed as FEV-tailored weapons for waging war on other countries and they got loose.
They do live a long time, but they are dying out by 2241.
They are also often called aliens, due to being mistaken for extra-terrestrial beings.
They hatch from eggs laid by the queen, which is larger than the other wanamingos and grey in color.
They aren't intelligent in the usual sense, but they do seem to have a hive-mind mentality
The only known queen lived in the Wanamingo Mine in Redding, owned by Ascorti. All aliens living in that mine were Believed to been killed by the Chosen One in 2242.