About AWPL

AWPL is an international journal dedicated to the study of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) within the Western Palearctic region.
Its scope encompasses various disciplines, including taxonomy, systematics, speciation, faunistics, distribution, biogeography, morphology, biodiversity, ecology, evolutionary biology, phylogenetics, phylogeography, genetic diversity and applied research.

We believe that scientific publications should be free from commercial constraints and remain fully open, without embargoes, for both authors and readers.
There are no subscription fees, and publishing is entirely free of charge. Contributions to support IT hosting and maintenance are warmly welcomed.

AWPL is archived in Zenodo, an open-access repository developed by CERN and supported by the European OpenAIRE program and the European Commission, adhering to best practices for digital preservation.

We welcome manuscripts (orginal articles, notes, reviews and opinion papers) that explore all relevant aspects of a subject.
Research should be comprehensive rather than focused on isolated characteristics. In taxonomy, for example, studies should integrate morphology, genetics, distribution, ecology, and potential other relevant data in accordance with the Biological Species Concept (BSC) to ensure accurate and well-rounded classification.
Whenever possible, researchers are encouraged to incorporate controlled experiments to test hypotheses. In lepidopteran studies, for instance, experimental approaches may explore the interplay of genetic divergence, reproductive isolation, and environmental influences on morphology.
The requirements of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (2012) must be followed. If authors choose to deviate from a recommendation, they must provide a well-reasoned justification.

Papers on taxonomic subjects containing nomenclatural acts and/or new names are registered in ZooBank to ensure their validity in zoological nomenclature from the date of publication. Each paper includes the official publication date and corresponding registration codes.

Submitted MS are evaluated and unsuitable papers are returned within a week.
AWPL employs an open peer review process, where reviewers disclose their identities, fostering transparency, accountability, and constructive feedback.
Once a manuscript is accepted, it is placed on a fast track for expedited publication.

The specific details of the journal are:
Free for authors.
Open Access.
Open peer review.
Published online, without embargoes.
Electronic only.
Archived in Zenodo.
Assigned DOI.
English only.

AWPL is a publication from Archives of Western Palearctic Lepidoptera. Open Source Research on Western Palearctic Lepidoptera.

Looking forward to your research, manuscripts, comments, and suggestions, Michel Taymans and Sylvain Cuvelier