Per EPA Regulations, Taurus SC cannot be applied more than 2 times a year at a rate of 0.8 oz per gallon of water or 4 times a year at a rate of 0.4 oz per gallon of water. Per the supplemental label, in California only the rate of 4 times/calendar year is approved and spraying only 6 inches up on the foundation and 6 inches out from the foundation.
If you want to use Taurus SC for termite protection, then the product has to be used in the soil where the termites are, not just sprayed on the surface like you would do for ants. If you have piers under your home, then you would trench around those piers with the same rate and trench as if you were treating around the foundation of a structure. You can read more in our Termite Prevention Guide here.
Taurus SC Termiticide is not labeled for aphids and should not be used on plants. Talstar is labeled for aphids and will be gentle on your oleander plant.
The rate for Taurus SC Termiticide rate for preconstruction is 1 gallon of finished solution per 10 sq. ft. You will use 0.8 fl oz per gallon.
Taurus SC Termiticide is labeled for house crickets but does not specify mole crickets. It could be used as a general spray application to the perimeter of the home outside only, 1 to 2 feet up the foundation and out on the ground.
A 20 oz. bottle of Taurus SC Termiticide will cover approximately 300 square feet.
Taurus SC Termiticide is not labeled for application to tree stumps. A better option would be Dominion 2L. You can drill into the stump and then inject Dominion 2L into the stump where the termites activity is using a hand pump sprayer. You can also choose to trench around the stump and apply the product to the trench. Dominion will help to eliminate the colony below ground as well as those in the stump.
We recommend that you have an inspection performed on the structure to determine all locations of termite activity and the species that you are targeting. This will determine which product will need to be applied and the appropriate locations of treatment other than the areas that are currently visible in the garage and kitchen. We do offer a wood treatment product that is called Bora-Care for raw, natural wood applications.
Since you have a French drain in place you would not be able to trench and treat along that side of the home at all, or within 2 feet (24 inches) of the french drain in general. You also cannot use it within 5 feet of the sump pit and pump, per Taurus SC label. Per the label:
Identify and locate French drains, then apply Taurus SC in the following manner:
1. Unplug the sump pump. Inspect the sump pit for water. If no water is present, keep the sump pump unplugged while making the treatment.
2. If water is in the pump pit, unplug the sump pump and remove four cups of water from the pit. Mark the water level. Wait 10 minutes then check the water level in the pit. If the water level has risen, there is too much seepage to make a treatment. If the water level has not risen, a treatment can be made as long as the sump pump remains unplugged. During application, check the sump pump pit every few minutes for the presence of termiticide dilution. If dilution is detected, stop the treatment immediately and remove all dilution from the pump pit before plugging the pump back in. Dispose of the dilution from the sump pump pit as directed by this label in the "Storage and Disposal" section.
After mixing Taurus SC with water the solution should be used within 24 hours.
When you are treating for an active infestation of subterranean termites with Taurus SC Termiticide it is advised to spot treat the gallery in the wood inside as well as trench around the outside of the home as part of treatment and future prevention. This can be done with a sprayer nozzle and the Taurus concentrate, or you can use a product like Termidor Foam to do the wall void application to make treatment and reach easier.
Taurus SC Termiticide is a restrive product in general in regards to where, when, and how often it can be applied even in states outside of California. Per the state and EPA, it cannot be applied in California between November 1 and February 28 per the label, and the label is the law. In general, November-February are considered winter months that no insecticides would normally be recommended for as this is not an active pest season or time of year. When registering the Taurus label and use in California, they made sure to specify to not use during these times of year to further reduce any unneccesary applications of the chemical.
Yes, we would recommend using the trenching method to treat around the inside perimeter of your crawl sprace and outside the perimeter with a product such as Taurus SC. Please be sure to review the product label for complete application instructions. Also, please take a moment to review our How to Get Rid of Subterranean Termites Guide for more information and helpful tips.
Taurus SC is only labeled to be applied right up against a structure and cannot be broadcast across the lawn. Leaf cutter ants can be a difficult pest to get rid of. The colonies are large and the ants make their own food so poison baits only have limited effects on this species of ants. According to several university websites, Maxforce Complete Granules containing hydramethlynon are some what effective, though they will usually eliminate only about 30% of a large colony in one treatment and will need to be reapplied several times. DeltaGard granules is one of the only products actually labeled for leaf cutter ants. The product label recommends treating the mound directly and lightly watering the granules in. Again, it may take several treatments to get the desired results. We also recommend contacting your local cooperative extension office to see if they have any recommendations for products that have worked for other people in your region.
It is not necessary to wet the soil before digging your trench. You want the soil to be dry at least 24 hours before application of Taurus SC. For your reference I have also included our "How To Do A Termite Treatment" article to learn how you can protect the rest of your home against future invasion.
Taurus SC Termiticide can be applied in the soil in a trench and/or drilled holes up against the foundation or applied with a sprayer (1 ft up and 1 ft out) for carpenter ants. Please take a few moments to review our articles and videos below for additional helpful treatment information for both pests.
Carpenter Ant Control
Termite Control
Yes, you can apply Taurus SC Termiticide to the soil while the slab has been removed. This will help prevent future infestations.
Taurus SC Termiticide is not labeled for spotted lanternflies. Spotted Lantern Fly is an invasive pest only found in certain areas of Pennsylvania right now. Penn State Extension has set up an entire website to help track and control this pest. Please visit the site for information on how to report this pest and the non-chemical steps recommended. Further information for homeowners can be found here
Some folks are treating trees with Safari 20SG for prevention/early treatment or Talstar P if already active
If you are applying Taurus SC around a structure for surface pests such as ants, slight dampness from dew should not be an issue as long as the application is able to dry in the same day. Keep in mind that Taurus SC cannot be applied more than 1 foot from structures in areas such as out in the lawn.
