Sighting for April 15, 2022

Seasonal riparian area along the Rio Grande. the river has water only in the summer, during irrigation season. It was dry on this visit. Dominant vegetation is coyote willow (Salix exigua), tamarisk, saltgrass, bermuda grass. Also other grasses are present, including the foodplant for the butterfly of this sighting, cane bluestem (Bothriochloa barbinodes). I did not see bluestem on this visit, but have seen it there previously. Several species of butterflies and other insects were nectaring on a single blooming tamarisk. Checkered whites were flying in the park, but were not nectaring on this particular tamarisk. Amblyscirtes nereus was marginal for range, out of habitat, and early in its flight time. I saw it very clearly and very close on the underside, many times, but did not see the upperside. I had seen it in this park before, 21 September 2008, with a long, clear, close look of upperside and underside as it nectared on Trailing Windmills (Nyctaginaceae).