Plant viruses that are transmitted in a non-circulative, semi-persistent (NCSP) manner have determinants on, and/or accessories to, their capsids that facilitate virion binding to specific retention sites in their insect vectors. Bilateral interactions and interactions occurring at the nexus of all three partners (virus, vector and plant) also contribute to transmission by influencing virus acquisition and inoculation. Vector feeding behavior lies at the core of this trio of virus transmission processes (retention-acquisition-inoculation), but transmission may also be mediated by virus infection-triggered and/or vector feeding-triggered plant cues that influence behavioral responses such as vector attraction, deterrence and dispersal. Insights into the multiphasic interactions and coordinated processes will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of NCSP transmission.