The insect species Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is a stored-product pest which tend to infest a variety of durable agricultural commodities, mostly oriented toward cereals and related amylaceous substrates of low humidity. Thus, the past few years, research on T. molitor has been focused on its biology, ecology, and control methods due to its pest status. However, recently, the same insect species has undergone a significant reevaluation, as it is considered as a promising alternative protein source not only for animal feed but also for human consumption. The direction to new applications of T. molitor in sustainable agriculture and livestock farming has been mainly driven by the green light of the European Commission and European Food Safety Authority, which has redirected the interest of the scientific community toward utilization of T. molitor as a novel protein source. This shift is evidenced by a rapid increase in related publications since 2017. Recent publication of this sector highlights the nutritional benefits of T. molitor larvae, their potential in waste management, and the economic viability of its mass production. However, there is still a gap in the literature concerning the optimization its mass rearing, the disease management, and the exploration of the by-products produced through the rearing of T. molitor, i.e., soil fertilizer. This paper reviews the trajectory of T. molitor research, emphasizing its dual role as both a pest and a valuable resource.

昆虫物种 Tenebrio molitor L.（鞘翅目：Tenebrionidae）是一种储存产品害虫，往往会侵染各种耐用的农产品，主要以谷物和相关的低湿度直链淀粉基质为导向。因此，由于其害虫地位，过去几年对 T. molitor 的研究一直集中在其生物学、生态学和控制方法上。然而，最近，相同的昆虫物种经历了重大的重新评估，因为它被认为是一种很有前途的替代蛋白质来源，不仅用于动物饲料，而且用于人类消费。T. molitor 在可持续农业和畜牧业中的新应用方向主要是由欧盟委员会和欧洲食品安全局的批准推动的，该批准已将科学界的兴趣转向利用 T. molitor 作为一种新型蛋白质来源。自 2017 年以来相关出版物的快速增长证明了这种转变。该部门最近发表的文章强调了 T. molitor 幼虫的营养价值、它们在废物管理中的潜力以及其大规模生产的经济可行性。然而，关于优化其大规模饲养、疾病管理以及探索通过饲养 T. molitor 产生的副产品（即土壤肥料）的文献仍然存在空白。本文回顾了 T. molitor 研究的轨迹，强调了其既是害虫又是宝贵资源的双重作用。