Teen Dies After Injecting Himself With Butterfly Remains in Bizarre Online Challenge

Brazilian teen, 14, dies after injecting butterfly remains in suspected social media challenge, prompting warnings about dangerous online trends.

Vitória da Conquista, Brazil – A 14-year-old Brazilian boy, Davi Nunes Moreira, died on February 12, 2025, after injecting himself with a mixture of crushed butterfly remains and water, in what authorities suspect was part of a dangerous social media challenge sweeping parts of South America. The tragic incident, which occurred in the northeastern state of Bahia, has sparked widespread alarm about the risks of viral internet trends targeting impressionable youth.

Moreira initially told his father he had injured his leg while playing, but as his condition worsened—marked by severe pain, vomiting, and loss of mobility—he admitted to medical staff at the General Hospital of Vitória da Conquista that he had used a syringe to inject a concoction of dead butterfly remains mixed with water into his right leg. The syringe was later found hidden under his pillow. Despite medical efforts, Moreira endured a week of excruciating symptoms before succumbing to complications.

Dr. Luiz Fernando D. Relvas, a medical expert at Hospital Santa Marcelina, suggested that the teen’s death may have resulted from septic shock caused by toxins in the butterfly, possibly a species like the Monarch, which can carry potent chemicals from plants like milkweed. Alternatively, an embolism from air bubbles or solid fragments in the injection could have contributed. “The effects of injecting insect material into the human body are largely unstudied, but the risks are clearly catastrophic,” Relvas said. An autopsy is underway to pinpoint the exact cause of death, as the specific butterfly species remains unidentified.

Bahia police are investigating whether Moreira’s actions were linked to a viral challenge circulating on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where some teens in South America have reportedly been dared to inject butterfly mixtures for social media clout. While Moreira denied participating in such a trend before his death, authorities have uncovered online posts and screenshots promoting similar “experiments,” fueling concerns about the spread of deadly internet fads.

Marcelo Duarte, a butterfly specialist at São Paulo University’s Zoology Museum, explained that while butterflies are generally harmless to touch, their internal fluids can contain plant-derived toxins that may trigger severe allergic reactions, infections, or vascular blockages when introduced into the bloodstream. “This is not a game. These substances are not meant to interact with the human body in this way,” he warned.

The tragedy has drawn parallels to past deadly social media challenges, such as the Tide Pod or Benadryl challenges, which also led to hospitalizations and deaths among teens. Brazilian authorities are urging social media platforms to crack down on harmful content and are calling for increased parental supervision and digital literacy education to prevent further incidents.

Moreira’s family, devastated by the loss, held a funeral on February 14. The teen’s death has galvanized community leaders and officials to address the dangers of unregulated online trends. “This was a preventable tragedy,” said a Bahia police spokesperson. “We’re working to uncover how this challenge spread and to ensure it doesn’t claim more lives.”