These two bug people (bacteria are called “bugs” by both microbiologists and physicians) are named after two types of similar bacteria: MSSA (Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus) and MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).  Or Missa (the female) and Mersa (the male).  Mersa is a bit scarier because he is the resistant kind that cannot be treated with the usual antibiotics.  Missa represents the kind that is living on your skin right now (but can still cause infections elsewhere).

It took a while to figure out how to make the design different than the usual bug-like devices like carapace armor, antennae eyebrows, and compound eyes.  The raised tattoos and markings came from looking at pictures of ladybugs, moths, beetles, etc.   I like drawing hair that looks “alive,” so the hair tendrils was a given.  Gram-positive bacteria, like staphylococci, have thicker cell walls, so I drew these representations with exoskeletons (again, like insects).  When I draw some Gram-negatives (like E. coli or Pseudomonas), they won’t have this trait.

I was happy that my 7-year old boy could look at the picture and determine who was probably good and who was probably bad.