Microhabitat recordings suggest that the continental Antarctic mite Maudheimia petronia Wall-work experiences temperatures above 0°C for 60% of the time during summer (about 2 months). Summer daily maximum temperatures are, however, often relatively high (the highest recorded temperature was 27.7°C). Because the locomotor activity of this mite is suppressed at freezing temperatures, the time available for activity, and probably also feeding, is restricted. Temperature relations of potential locomotor activity rate suggest alleviation of this time constraint through the maximization of the rate. The locomotor activity rate of M. petronia is positively sensitive to the entire range of above-zero temperatures that it naturally experiences, being particularly accelerated at lower temperatures (Q100°–5°C values were above 13, whereas Q1025°–30°C values were below 2). Also, comparisons between mites acclimated at -15°C and 10°C suggest an inverse temperature acclimation of this rate. We hypothesize that potential feeding rate is similarly related to temperature. A relative enhancement of food intake would seem important, not only for the maintenance of a daily positive energy balance in summer, but also for the building up of energy reserves for the relatively long winter, when feeding is impossible.