Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) and <i>Rice ragged stunt virus </i>(RRSV) are two major viruses infecting rice in eastern and southeastern Asia, and are vectored by white-backed planthopper (WBPH, <i>Sogatella furcifera</i>) and brown planthopper (BPH, <i>Nilaparvata lugens</i>) in a persistent manner respectively. Using a Y-shape olfactometer-based device, we discovered that SRBSDV-free WBPHs significantly preferred SRBSDV-infected rice plants to healthy plants, whereas viruliferous WBPHs preferred healthy plants to infected plants; and RRSV-free BPHs significantly preferred healthy plants, whereas RRSV-carrying BPHs preferred SRBSDV-infected rice plants. These interactions may partially account for the rapid dissemination of SRBSDV and the co-infection of the two viruses in field. Meantime, we tested various biological parameters of WBPHs reared on SRBSDV infected rice plants under greenhouse condition. The results showed that both SRBSDV and infected plants were unfavorable for the expansion of WBPH population, leading to prolonged nymphal stages, reduced survival rates, shorter adult life spans and lower oviposition amounts. These findings give insight into the virus–vector–host plant relationship and are helpful for monitoring, forecasting, and controlling rice viral diseases.