Oxygen consumption in active and quiescent protonymphs of the American house-dust mite

Oxygen consumption in protonymphs of the American house-dust mite was measured by the Cartesian diver technique. Active protonymphs consumed 1.14 × 10^?2 μl/hr/mite under close to optimum temperature and humidity conditions for the species. This consumption is higher than that reported for fasting non-reproducing females. The protonymphs were active when confined in the diver and exhausted their energy reserves in less than 20 hr. Quiescent protonymphs consumed 4 × 10^?4 μl/hr/mite of oxygen, which is 28 times less than the consumption of active mites. The quiescence was not a static state, disturbed quiescent protonymphs had a six times higher oxygen consumption. This additional energy is thought to be spent in repair of injuries caused by collecting, e.g. secretion of wax on places where the layer has been removed.