Found Armored Millipedes

[Perocore]

I have no idea what species these guys could be...but I went searching with my sister in the surrounding woods and rolled over some rotting elm and birch logs and found 9 armored millipedes of some sort. They're all the same species, and I've seen 3 pairs of them mating already.
Here's a picture of one of them on my arm/hand. Unfortunately the little guys and gals are very fast and won't stop moving, so it was difficult to get a good picture.

And...well, all I can say is that I'll be expecting some babies!

So...you guys have any idea what genus or even species they could be? I'm in Upstate NY, temperature is about 72 Fahrenheit out. We found all of them in or under rotting birch, elm, and maple. They are all basically brown to black with orange to deep orange edges. They are certainly armored millipedes About 1" long each...maybe a smidge longer for some of them. Well, they're a great find, anyways! With our drought I've been having the hardest time finding even the most common of millipedes...finding so many in such a small and nearby area certainly has me in high spirits!

Thanks,
Annika​

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

Polydesmus or Pseudopolydesmus but the images are rather difficult to make out.

 

[MrCrackerpants]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

 

[oldmanofthesea]

Good luck with your new finds. Ron

 

[Perocore]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

Quite...I didn't even know I had any armored millipedes around here. Sure thing.

Polydesmus or Pseudopolydesmus but the images are rather difficult to make out.

Yeah, slow camera + fast pedes = bad image quality. I'll try to get a clearer image or two

Good luck with your new finds. Ron

Thanks! All 9 of them are doing very well still.

 

[Perocore]

Just an update on these guys!
So, I moved them into a much larger container, and they seem to really like it. I've now added two more adults, so I have 11 adults total. I also found a tiny little baby, and put that cutie in there as well. So, now I ought to have 12 of these Armored Millipedes. They make awesome pets, very docile and easy to handle! Also very hardy, I think I'd have to say anyone looking for a starter millipede should go with these. Here's some more images:

 

[MrCrackerpants]

What size are the adults?

 

[Perocore]

About 35mm is the largest I've got so far. Not massive, but easy to see all the same! These guys are VERY active, always moving around.

 

[moghue]

very neat millipedes. wish i could find some here in delaware. Maybe i need to drive up to NY and find some lol.

 

[SDCPs]

I think I'd have to say anyone looking for a starter millipede should go with these. Here's some more images:

I'd like to broaden this point of view: millipedes commonly found for free in your area make great starter millipedes...especially large tubular species or if unavailable their smaller tubular cousins. The polydesmids are harder to keep but obviously some make great starters!

Why not start with what you can find (so you get to witness their habitat conditions first hand) and also is free!