Single inhibition of either streaming (by Khc^mutA) or directed transport along microtubules (by Klc and btz double RNAi) maternally led to a reduced embryonic hatching rate. The inhibition of directed transport had a stronger effect on embryo hatching rates than the inhibition of streaming. Simultaneous inhibition of streaming and directed transport caused complete failure of embryogenesis comparable with knockdown of KHC (Khc-RNAi). Partial rescue of streaming by the expression of a chimeric motor (Unc104-KTail) in Khc knockdown background did not rescue the embryonic lethality. Lack of Staufen (stau^[D3]/stau^[ry9]) caused embryonic lethality, while ectopic expression of Staufen-SunTag maternally significantly suppressed the embryonic lethality resulting from the absence of endogenous Staufen.