Oxygen consumption rates of the minute terrestrial mite, Nanorchestes antarcticus Strandtmann were measured at +5°C with a Cartesian Diver microrespirometer. Individual respiration rates were in the range 0.156 (deutonymphy) to 1.135 (tritonymph) × 10-3 μ l O2 ind-1 h-1. Mean estimated live weights were 1.59 to 3.57 μg, and metabolic rate was highest in the adult female (367.734 μl O2 g-1 h-1) and lowest in the deutonymph (161.045 μl O2 g-1 h-1). These results are discussed with reference to other terrestrial mites and cold adaptation