There is currently no known resistance issue with Taurus SC Termiticide. It is a slow kill that kills off entire colonies so there should be none left to carry on a resistance, but it can take years of exposure to the same product to develop any type. An alternative product would be Phantom which can also be used inside along baseboards and in cracks and crevices where Taurus cannot be used.
We recommend that you open the door and windows to ventilate the area and speak to the company that treated for further details.
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.
No, Taurus SC Termiticide is not a systemic to be absorbed by roots and when dealing with carpenter ants you do not use a systemic. Carpenter ants only tear at the wood to create tunnels and galleries to nest in, they do not actually feed on the tree. Instead you can use Taurus SC to directly spot treat where the ants are in the tree as directed on the product label.
As long as the ground is not frozen, Taurus SC application is fine. Please let us know if you have any more questions!
No, Taurus SC Termiticide will not penetrate into wood at all, it is made to adhere to soil, not wood and should not be used for bait stations.
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.
Taurus SC Termiticide is the generic of Termidor SC so will have the same 10 years or more residual when applied in a trench. For a garage, you would be drilling along the inside walls of the garage by the foundation if there is an interior room on the other side. Directions for drilling (with a hammer drill) are to use a 18 in long drill bit that is 1/2in or 3/8 in wide and drilling holes 10-12in apart. You pour 1/2 gallon into each hole for the same rate as trenching 4 gallons over 10 lineal feet.
Yes, per Taurus SC's label, if there's a crawlspace it will also need to be treated. You will need to trench around the perimeter of your crawlspace, the same way as you would around the exterior of you home.
