Dominantly enhances the position effect variegation of w caused by In(1)w^m4. This enhancement is reversed if the flies also carry a copy of Hel25E^+t4.5. Some Hel25E³ homozygotes survive to the pupal stage. These animals have small heads and appendages, the thorax is often truncated posteriorly and most or all abdominal structures fail to differentiate. Females with homozygous Hel25E³ germlines lay very few eggs. Those that are laid are small, often collapsed and sometimes have fused dorsal appendages. Oogenesis appears normal until late stages; egg chambers develop to late stages before showing signs of degeneration and resorption.