A 14-year-old Brazilian boy died after injecting himself with a mixture containing butterfly remains, with police investigating whether the action was connected to an online challenge.
Davi Nunes Moreira of Planalto, Brazil, experienced severe symptoms after mixing a dead butterfly with water and injecting the solution into his leg. He initially concealed the true cause of his condition, telling his father he had been injured while playing.
“The autopsy results will help clarify the cause of death,” said a spokesman for the Civil Police in Vitoria da Conquista. “The investigation is designed to clear up what happened.”
Moreira’s condition deteriorated rapidly after the injection. He developed symptoms including vomiting and difficulty walking, leading to his hospitalization in Planalto. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to a hospital in Vitoria de Conquista, Bahia’s third-largest city, where he later died.
The boy’s father discovered a syringe hidden under his son’s pillow. It wasn’t until Moreira’s condition became critical that he revealed to medical professionals what he had done. He remained under medical care for seven days before his death.
“Butterflies have a complex biology, and the fluids present in their bodies have not been studied in depth in terms of their toxicity to humans,” said Marcelo Duarte, a butterfly specialist and director of Sao Paulo University’s Zoology Museum.
While certain butterfly species, particularly Monarchs, are known to contain toxic substances, these are primarily defensive mechanisms against predators. Authorities have not identified the specific type of butterfly involved in this case.
Medical experts suggest that the cause of death could be attributed to various factors, including an embolism, infection, or severe allergic reaction. Local authorities are awaiting complete post-mortem results before declaring an official cause of death.
Monarch butterfly caterpillars feed on milkweed, a plant that contains poisonous toxins stored in their bodies. These toxins make the butterflies unappealing to predators, though experts note that the levels are generally too low to pose any significant danger to humans.
Police are also investigating whether Moreira’s actions were influenced by an online challenge, though this connection has not been confirmed. This case has drawn attention across Brazil as authorities work to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the event.
One social media poster addressed speculation that Davi might have been involved in an online challenge, expressing concern about the younger generation’s vulnerability to internet trends. He wrote, “This generation is difficult and needs a lot of guidance. They believe so much in what they see online—challenges and videos. May he rest in peace. His family must be going through so much pain.”
Another social media user echoed this concern, suggesting that authorities should investigate Davi’s social media activity. She commented, “Some of the things you come across online are downright terrifying and absurd.”
In April, a popular Brazilian influencer faced a similar issue when a dangerous viral challenge nearly cost her much of her mobility. The influencer, known as Thammy MC, couldn’t walk after participating in an online dare for her two million followers. She placed her feet in a bucket filled with ice and salt, which caused severe injuries that turned her toes black and almost led to amputation.
“We kept our feet in the ice with coarse salt for 15 minutes,” Thammy recalled, describing the ordeal. “When I removed my foot, I experienced pain like nothing I’ve ever felt before. Three of my toes were black as soon as they came out of the bucket.”
Thammy was treated at a clinic, where medical staff informed her she was at risk of thrombosis and could have developed necrosis if she had stayed in the ice just one minute longer. Unable to walk or put pressure on her feet, she now relies on her mother to push her around the house in a garden chair. Her mother moves her from room to room for basic mobility needs.
