All that’s going on with viral ‘challenge’ where people inject themselves with dead butterflies

A harrowing news story emerged this week that a 14-year-old boy had passed away after he had injected himself with a crushed dead butterfly off the back of a viral online trend circulating on social media. The social media trend has been rife in South America, where participants have injected themselves with a crushed dead butterfly as part of a bizarre ‘challenge‘. Davi Nunes Moreira suffered a major reaction and after a week in hospital lost his life. But what even is this bizarre challenge which participants inject themselves with a dead butterfly, and why the hell would you do this in the first place? Here’s what’s going on and why it’s so dangerous.

First of all, butterflies can be toxic to humans because scientists don’t even fully know what their chemical makeup is and which toxins found inside them are potentially lethal.

I’m sorry but like what https://t.co/mnk6zqEhGQ

— by perfect 🔻 (@lmp3rfect) February 19, 2025

According to The Daily Mail, Davi Nunes Moreira mixed a dead butterfly with water and then used a syringe to inject the concoction into his leg. This shocking act was later discovered in his room. It’s hard to understand why such a dangerous challenge has gained any traction online, but shortly after injecting the mixture, the boy began to feel ill. His condition rapidly worsened, with symptoms including vomiting and losing the ability to walk.

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In addition, a doctor spoke to The New York Post and gave further insight. According to a doctor from the hospital where the boy was admitted, he may have experienced a blockage in a blood vessel, known as an embolism, as a result of the injection. However, doctors are still uncertain about the contents or the amount of the mixture, making it challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of death. A further autopsy is needed for more clarity, and there’s also the possibility that an allergic reaction played a role in his condition.

It goes without saying, but DON’T inject yourself with a dead butterfly in a water mixture. It’s extremely dangerous and one of the most bizarre trends on the internet right now.

Photo by Amy Baugess on Unsplash