A recently discovered leafhopper viral pathogen was examined to determine the route of virus entry and sites of replication in the glassy-winged sharpshooter, GWSS, (Homalodisca vitripennis, Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). The virus, HoCV-1, has been found associated with increased nymphal mortality. The virus was isolated from field caught GWSS and the genome has been fully sequenced. Sequence identity showed that HoCV was a ssRNA virus, most closely related to viruses within the family Dicistroviridae, whose type virus is the ‘Cricket-paralysis virus’ (Hunter et al. 2006; Hunnicutt et al, 2006), The virus was visualized in midgut tissues using transmission electron microscopy, TEM, and detection by rtPCR supports that the virus enters and replicates within the midgut tissues. Few leafhopper infecting viral pathogens have been discovered and shown to reduce leafhopper survival. It is postulated that an increase in nymphal mortality, especially during the final nymphal stage, is associated with contributing to the reduction in sharpshooter populations throughout southern California. New discoveries such as these are aiding efforts to manage the GWSS and other leafhopper vectors of Pierce’s disease, and aim to reduce the spread of other Xylella caused diseases in grapes, citrus, and other agriculturally important crops.