Australian Butterfly Sanctuary's laboratory is essential to keep the aviary full of butterflies. In the wild, of all the eggs laid by a female butterfly on her foodplant, only 2% of the caterpillars in the wild will succeed to become adult butterflies. Laboratory staff, however, consistently have a success rate no lower than 80%.

Caterpillars are easy prey for birds, and other larger insects, and are also exploited by certain wasps who will deposit eggs into a caterpillar, thereby utilising it as a host for its young. Furthermore, some species of caterpillars easily fall victim to viral or bacterial diseases. 

The laboratory is run under strict quarantine. Entry is limited to laboratory personal only, who observe strict hygiene regulations whilst carrying out their work of caring for the caterpillars.

Food plants are changed daily to ensure that the caterpillar's diet is as close as possible to that which it would find in the wild, and the areas where they live are kept sterile.