Monday 9 December 2013

the solar powered butterfly

We have a new garden toy - a solar powered cabbage white butterfly that is supposed to scare off intruding butterflies.

Penny hasn't shown any interest in it, which is great. But of course we humans can't leave well enough alone, so I threw a treat into the garden to lure her in there and see what she would do.

The butterfly fluttered right in her face and she ignored it. Hooray!

And I think it's doing its job. If you look carefully at the last part of the clip, you'll see a cabbage white fly to the tomato plants and go away when it sees the artificial butterfly moving around. The idea is that these butterflies are territorial and a female won't lay eggs on plants if she thinks another butterfly has already laid eggs there.


Look how delicately Penny backs out without damaging the baby tomatoes and basil. What a clever dog!

4 comments:

Lassiter Chase and Benjamin said...

That butterfly is pawsome! Never seen one like that before. Very interesting to look at and watch.

parlance said...

Lassie and Benji, it makes me feel good to watch it, so it's worth the money in that way, but the test will be whether it keeps cabbage butterflies off the vegetables!

Molly the Airedale said...

What a neat butterfly! You are such a good girl to be so careful in the garden, Penny!

Love ya lots♥
Mitch and Molly

parlance said...

Mitch and Molly, I was impressed at how carefully she back out!