Darian Woods

Aw, little Armando. Well, little Armando grew up to be big Armando, who actually works with bugs for a living. On the side, he consults for film and TV. Like, he's consulted on spiders for Netflix's House of Cards and on hissing cockroaches for Chef Gordon Ramsay's new show, Secret Service.

I would love to hear the outtakes from that filming session.

I would love to hear the outtakes from that filming session.

I would love to hear the outtakes from that filming session.

Yeah, it may not be safe for radio broadcast. Armando's full-time job, though, is working at the Smithsonian Institution. There, he's a biological science technician. He specializes in looking after the collections that include the aphids and the whiteflies. He's also a union vice president, representing many federal workers involved with border biosecurity.

Yeah, it may not be safe for radio broadcast. Armando's full-time job, though, is working at the Smithsonian Institution. There, he's a biological science technician. He specializes in looking after the collections that include the aphids and the whiteflies. He's also a union vice president, representing many federal workers involved with border biosecurity.

Yeah, it may not be safe for radio broadcast. Armando's full-time job, though, is working at the Smithsonian Institution. There, he's a biological science technician. He specializes in looking after the collections that include the aphids and the whiteflies. He's also a union vice president, representing many federal workers involved with border biosecurity.

He explains the importance of entomology at the border like this.

He explains the importance of entomology at the border like this.

He explains the importance of entomology at the border like this.

Yeah, and actually picture a whole freightload of bananas. These bananas are inspected by a Customs and Border Protection officer who might have been trained by an entomologist. And if they see a strange bug in these bananas, that bug might be sent to an entomologist for identification. Meanwhile, the freight unloading is paused because the wrong insects getting into the U.S.

Yeah, and actually picture a whole freightload of bananas. These bananas are inspected by a Customs and Border Protection officer who might have been trained by an entomologist. And if they see a strange bug in these bananas, that bug might be sent to an entomologist for identification. Meanwhile, the freight unloading is paused because the wrong insects getting into the U.S.

Yeah, and actually picture a whole freightload of bananas. These bananas are inspected by a Customs and Border Protection officer who might have been trained by an entomologist. And if they see a strange bug in these bananas, that bug might be sent to an entomologist for identification. Meanwhile, the freight unloading is paused because the wrong insects getting into the U.S.

can be economically crushing.

can be economically crushing.

can be economically crushing.

That could be hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to the U.S. farmers. Is that right?

That could be hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to the U.S. farmers. Is that right?

That could be hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to the U.S. farmers. Is that right?

But recently, with job cuts, resignation offers and funding freezes, Armando was wondering whether he wants to be working in the U.S. He says he lost three technicians thanks to the recent job cuts in February. And as a union representative, Armando has spent countless hours on the phone talking with distressed colleagues.