Brian Van Der Kieft and Max Prins were the first breeders of this species in Europe.

A disturbed Orthoporus ornatus may curl into a coil and release a toxic substance that is located on all sides of its body.

In general, this millipede lives in a desert ecosystem where there are abundant rocks, shrubs, damp soil and other tree trunks.

[9] The soil contains abundant food sources as well as acts as protection from above--ground biotic or abiotic effects such as predation, weather, and ultraviolet radiation.

It also eats surface litter and bark of "Mormon tea" and mesquite as well as tiny pieces of sand, rock, and other invertebrate animals.

When emerging, it feeds voraciously in an effort to store sufficient energy for when it returns to the soil.

[12] The millipede has defenses against predation[citation needed], though its subterranean habitat offers the greatest protection.

During high-temperature periods, it can be found under rocks and sometimes on the aerial portions of shrubs; though this was only observed when the air temperature was 35.5 degree Celsius.

Sometime it may even release a noxious substance out from the side of its body,[8] or more specifically, through glands that are on top of its legs.

Because the desert is such a dry place, dead plants and animals take an extra long time to fully decay.