Yeah, the butterflies are much cheaper and I need my energies for other things, so it's what I use, now. It seems to keep him occupied longer. Plus, it keeps the kids in my sight for when I need them to pick up relics and such.
My rascal is named Poh and always seems to find his way near the finished statue (which I thought made them uncomfortable, but maybe only the adults) and he keeps a good bit of my village in the middle of the island.