Idh3b³/Df(3R)Exel6188 transheterozygotes develop more slowly relative to controls as the time from egg-laying to puparium formation is significantly increased and the mutant pupae show abnormal persistence of larval salivary glands in the pupal stage (beyond 30 hr after puparium formation). The mitochondria in late/pupae and prepupae do not undergo extensive fragmentation as is typical for wild-type and remain largely elongated.

Almost all embryos from mothers with germline consisting of solely Idh3b³ mutant cells (created by the ovoD technique) fail to complete embryogenesis but majority of them survive to blastoderm stage or beyond and about half show some degree of segmentation (assessed by en expression pattern), albeit fragmented and irregular and the head region is strongly reduced.

Idh3b³/Idh3b¹ mutants fail to shorten their bodies properly at puparium formation, fail to tan, often exhibit a defect in anterior spiracle eversion and die following head eversion. Mutants possess persistent salivary glands, even though adult structures have formed, including eyes and wings.