Root mealybugs are important pests of coffee in many parts of the world. Despite the importance of these insects very little is known about their biology, ecology, and coffee susceptibility at different developmental stages.This study determined the effects of coffee tree pruning on root biomass, the number and within-plant spatial distribution of root-associated mealybugs, and weed-mealybug associations near coffee root systems. We made destructive root sampling of pruned and non-pruned coffee trees every 3 mo during the first-year post-pruning. In each sampling, we quantified coffee root biomass, and the number and spatial distribution of mealybug genera. Mealybugs feeding on weed roots were sampled every 2 wk for the duration of 10 wk.We identified the mealybug genera Puto Signoret (Hemiptera: Putoidae), Dysmicoccus Ferris (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), RipersiellaTins ley (Hemiptera: Rhizoecidae), Rhizoecus Künckel (Hemiptera: Rhizoecidae), and Geococcus Green (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) associated with coffee roots. Species from Puto and Ripersiella were the most abundant representing 91% of the total mealybugs found in non-pruned trees, and 75% of the ones found in pruned trees. Coffee tree pruning reduced root biomass by 60% and mealybug numbers during the first 9 mo post-pruning. Mealybugs associated with a variety of weeds growing near coffee roots increased their number during the first 6 wk after coffee pruning. Our results suggest that coffee tree pruning causes a high percentage of root death, which correlates with a decrease of root-associated mealybugs that probably migrate to weed roots.This study provides basic information for designing mealybug control strategies in pruned coffee trees.