That does not look like a root mealybug. There are a number of creepycrawlies that live in soil and plantpots, I can't say for sure what this is. Maybe a woodlouse? Hopefully someone else can help!

Looks kind of like a rolly poley to me (probably didn't spell that right)

That looks like some member of the decomposition crew, a scavenger of dead material in the soil. Rhizo may know exactly what it is if she pops by.

If you google images of root mealybug, that should calm your fears on that front, they don't look anything like that.

It's a terrestrial isopod. For the most part, they are detritivores feeding on dead/decaying matter. However, if that should be in short supply they may feed on soft plant material such as root hairs, root tips, and tender new growth.

Thanks to all. I think Paul nailed it. Now I recall I saw them in the garden when I dig. Never see it scroll into a ball though. But looks like drowning will kill them. That's how I killed this one. Good to know it is not mealibug, phew!

Worthy of note...woodlouse and rolly poly are just other names for the terrestrial isopod,so you were all right!

Years ago I recall having a few ficus benjamina cuttings in a terrarium that had a few running loose. They left pretty much left everything else that was growing/rooting in there alone,but would climb to the tops of the benjis to nibble the new growth tips.
It was amusing. :)

Can't help but wonder though...

Do an image search of "springtail" and see if that's a possibility. Sorry,but this has been nagging at me.