Most believe that, like psychopaths and casino proprietors, flies are resolutely amoral, independent-minded and rarely, if ever, act for the greater good.

For example, you will never see a fly helping another fly to extricate itself from a particularly viscous banana smoothie.

At no time will you ever catch a glimpse of one fly warning another about the ravenous spider lurking just behind the rancid pet food slop.

And nobody has ever witnessed a fly offering another fly some of its regurgitated sweaty dandruff.

Or any other irresistible treat for that matter.

In groups, their selfishness manifests itself in haphazard 'swarming' activity as they compete dispassionately for whatever moisture or foodstuff is available.

There is however a pervasive myth that some flies are like certain geese and other migratory birds, and sometimes fly in strict formation.

This piece is designed to appeal to the countless myth believers, the vast majority of whom are also illiterate and will therefore not have been able to read this disturbing revelation of the truth.