Theorised to initially be fed by the attendant ants within the ant brood chambers, but later turning myrmecophagous and feeding on the early stages of the ants. However, the ants also farm coccids and alternatively there is a possibility that the A. brisbanensis larvae may feed on the immature stages of the coccids.

The larvae are believed to spend their entire life period inside the nests of the small dark-brown byre building ant Papyrius (Iridomyrmex) sp (nitidus group).

Very small (0.55 mm), initially white, later turning greyish white, hemispherical when laid but becoming subconical, with a very fine reticulated pattern. On the sides the reticulation pits are deep trigonal shaped (ordered into hexags), but dorsally the pits become variable in shape and smaller as they compensate for decreasing space and the hexagonal pattern is lost. On the sides at each facet intersection there is a short raised blunt spine. The egg is apically flattened and covered in very small irregular shallow facets without raised spines, and the micropylar area is tiny. The eggs are very similar in morphology to the eggs of Paralucia. A female has been reported to lay several eggs on a small dead Eucalyptus stump containing a nest of the Papyrius ant.

In a closely related species the eggs are collected by the ants and taken into their nest. In yet another related species that utilises Papyrius ants, the ants build a byre around the eggs until they hatch, while in another species the emergent larvae are collected by the ants in their mandibles and taken into the nest.

Not yet recorded, although the greyish colour of the mature egg would suggest the first instar larva would be greyish coloured. Mature larvae of similar species are greyish cream, brown or green and brown coloured, long onisciform shape, usually bearing a few bristly hairs on each segment, and with the head being small, smooth, black or brown, hidden beneath the body.

Not yet documented, although pupae have occasionally been recovered from inside hollow branches that contained the Papyrius ants, where they were attached to the inside walls of the hollow branch by anal hooks and a central girdle. From one of these pupae a butterfly emerged after 21 days.

Pupae of related species are smooth, long, narrow, cylindrical, rounded anteriorly and are dull black or brown, sometimes with brown markings on the abdomen.The empty pupal skins of these species are destroyed by the ants after the adult butterflies emerge.Their pupal period varies from 3 to 12 weeks.

The only South Australian records are for late October to mid December, and again late February. In nearby Victoria it is probably single brooded with a staggered flight, flying from early November to mid-March with the main flight period in December and January.

In South Australia the butterfly (pale form) has only been encountered in the Upper Southeast Region. It has also been recorded in the adjacent Little Desert and Grampians area of western Victoria, and again at a single location just to the north of Perth in Western Australia.The dark brown form is more commonly encountered along the Great Dividing Range in the eastern states. The butterfly uniquely utilises the same Papyrius ants that are utilised by Hypochrysops ignitus, and as the two butterflies are found in similar habitat, it is therefore likely that Acrodipsas brisbanensis will have a similar range as that butterfly. If the more common H. ignitus is ever encountered then A. brisbanensis should also be looked for at the same time, particularly on the top of any nearby pinnacle hills or large dunes.

There is also another very rare Acrodipsas, A. myrmecophila that also utilises these Papyrius ants, but which has yet to be recorded from South Australia. By similar reasoning, there is no reason why this butterfly could not occur where the other two butterflies are found. This butterfly looks similar to A. brisbanensis, but is slightly smaller and the wings are rounded. However, it requires moist habitat.

In the eastern states the butterfly is usually seen in pristine open forest and tall woodland habitat having annual rainfall greater than about 500 mm. In South Australia its occurrence is in pristine, broad-acre mallee habitat having annual rainfall of 450 mm. A pinnacle dune or hill top, with at least one bush or tree occurring at or near its apex is almost an obligatory habitat requirement. Further suitable habitat would appear to be present in South Australia, particularly in the Mt Lofty and southern Flinders Ranges, and on southern Eyre Peninsula.

Very local in distribution in South Australia, and considered very rare, although its only known site is theoretically secure in the Ngarkat Conservation Park. This site was burnt out after the first recording of the butterfly, but recently the butterfly has been seen flying again. Not threatened in the eastern states.

The butterfly does not adjust very well to agricultural and urban development. Hilltops in urban fringe areas are often targeted for housing and communication towers. Similarly, the indiscriminate placement of giant wind turbines on hilltops without first assessing the environmental impact on this and similar hilltop dependant butterflies would likely cause these butterflies to suffer, with even irreparable population damage. The butterfly's main threat in conservation areas is likely to be 'hot' bushfires, but it can survive 'cool' bushfires similar to Ogyris halmaturia when the early stage colony is located and insulated in stumps below ground. It is believed to be totally dependent on the one species of ant, which is itself rare, and usually dependent on undisturbed habitat. As the butterfly's early stages survive off the living resources of the ant colony then the survival of the butterfly is very much dependent on the well-being of the ant colony. Ant colonies would be disrupted by the diggings of large burrowing animals, particularly rabbits, but also bandicoots, wombats and echidnas. A proliferation of bird life could also be a potential threat to the butterfly due to its dependence on hill topping, that places it in a situation where it can become vulnerable to repetitive bird attacks. The butterfly is also under threat from the impact of butterfly collectors due to its rarity and unique relict-population status.

The butterfly requires broad-acre pristine habitat for survival. Pinnacle hilltops would be required for colony stability and the incorporation of elevated areas into conservation reserves would be necessary for the survival of this and many other threatened butterfly species. Full due-process is required in the assessment of environmental impact statements (if they occur at all) for the placement of wind turbine farms. As the South Australian population is known from only a very limited area, collectors need to control their urge and collect no more than a pair, (even though the butterfly is protected! )