Are you aware of some examples where you have studied about haploid and diploid insects?
Yes, in animals, mitotic cell division is typically seen in diploid somatic cells. However, there are exceptions where haploid cells also divide by mitosis.
A significant example is the male honey bee, which is a haploid insect. Unlike most animals where mitosis is restricted to diploid cells, male honey bees show mitotic division in their haploid cells. This is mentioned as an exception in social insects.
Thus, while most insects are diploid and undergo mitosis in their somatic cells, male honey bees represent a unique case of haploid insects capable of cell division.
Explanation
The textbook explicitly mentions that in animals, mitotic cell division is only seen in diploid somatic cells, with few exceptions. The male honey bee is cited as a specific example where haploid cells divide by mitosis. The context also refers to 'social insects' broadly as having haploid cells that undergo mitosis. This question tests the student's understanding that while mitosis is generally restricted to diploid cells, exceptions exist in nature, particularly in social insects like honey bees where males develop from unfertilized eggs and are haploid.