Termidor SC Termiticide/Insecticide - Questions & Answers

We reached out to the manufacturer BASF for an official answer on this verbiage on the Termidor SC label. Here is what they stated. 

“Not using termiticides in voids with Rigid foam insulation” is EPA required language that dates back to times when soil termiticides contained organic solvents/adjuvants which helped them remain in solution long enough to be applied but also damaged rigid foam insulation (think DDT, Heptachlor, Chlordane, or Dursban times; e.g. Pre-Termidor products from the 1950’s through 1990’s).  In 1996, the EPA mandated that the language be on all liquid termiticide labels moving forward (regardless of whether the product contained solvents or emulsifiers or not).  Termidor products do not contain any caustic emulsifiers or solvents that would damage/ “eat up” the rigid foam board (as the 80WG, SC, HE lines are all water soluble).”

This also applies to the generic equivalent on the market under the branding Taurus SC. If you are needing to foam into the foundation void area where there is foam rigid board, they recommend using the Termidor Foam Aerosol as this labeling does not have that verbiage and restriction on it for use. 

You can mix Termidor SC in a one gallon hand pump sprayer and apply directly as a spot treatment to the affected area.  You can do this by taking the trim off and spraying the termites directly, or by drilling a hole and spraying in the wall void.  The bigger issue though is that your home has probably not had a termite treatment recently to protect it against termites in the first place.  You should read our "How To Do A Termite Treatment" article to learn how you can protect the rest of your home against future invasion.

Termidor SC is a very safe product and widely used by professional companies inside homes every day across the country.  Termidor SC is odorless and does not have any fumes.  As long as you applied the product as directed inside the wall, you do not have to leave the home.  We always recommend leaving the room after applying any product and just allow enough time for it to dry which is usually about 30 to 45 minutes.  As far as replacing the drywall, you can do so usually after 24 hours when everything has had time to dry out.  If you replace the drywall too soon before the wall has dried, you can have moisture issues which can lead to mold.  24 hours is usually plenty of time for everything to dry out.

Termidor SC can be used in crawlspaces. There are complete instructions on the Termidor SC product label (page 5) on how to use the product in the crawlspace, so if a bit inadvertently goes into the crawlspace it should not pose a problem.

We agree with you...we would absolutely recommend doing the crawl space with Termidor by trenching the inside perimeter and around all of the piers, and treat just as you would around the outside.  Once your crawl space is encapsulated you will not be able to treat again.  This also greatly limits inspections of the crawl space for termites in the future so we recommend keeping a close eye upstairs in the living space on the first floor for any activity.

For Termite or ant control, mix at a rate of .80 fl oz. to each gallon of water. For Termite Control, each 20 oz bottle will make 24 gallons of solution and treats 60 lineal feet of trenching.

If you are treating for Carpenter Ants, you will spray around the perimeter of the house as you described, 1-2 ft up the foundation and 1-2 ft out onto the ground, around door frames, window frames, places where cables, pipes or wires go through the wall and any other crack or crevice where the ants can gain entry into your home. If you are treating for termites, you will need to make a 6 inch x 6 inch trench right up against the foundation and pour in 4 gallons of diluted Termidor SC for every 10 ft of trench. We recommend that you read our article How To Do a Termite Treatment to learn how to deal with porches, decks and driveways when performing a termite treatment

Termidor SC should not be used in the screened porch as that is considered an "indoor use" which is prohibited on the product label (unless it is used in wall voids). We recommend that you do stick to using the Suspend SC on the screened porch.

There are no alternative used for Termidor.  Termidor is not labeled for use on pets and should not under any circumstances be used than for any uses on the product label.  It is illegal to use a product other than what is stated on the product label.  Termidor is labeled for termites, ants, and other invading insects and is only allowed to be applied as a perimeter barrier around your home.

If this is the only area, then Termidor would be a great choice.  Termidor does not penetrate through wood, so you cannot just apply it on the wood.  The trick is you have to drill holes into the center of the wood and inject it so it touches the termites.  As long as it only touches a few termites it will work.  You will only use a small amount of the Termidor, which is a concentrate, but the product will last for 5 years on the shelf and is also the best product for treating ants around your home as well.

You can use Termidor SC indoors for carpenter ants in wall voids only. You cannot spray the baseboards or anywhere else in your home. You will need to spray directly into the wall void by drilling small holes in the wall. Other products that work effectively indoors would be Phantom Aerosol or carpenter ant baits like Maxforce Carpenter Ant Bait Gel or Advance Carpenter Ant Bait both of which are sold in our Carpenter Ant Bait Kit #1.

Termidor SC should help eliminate any carpenter ants as long as they are crossing over the treated areas. As long as the Termidor had a chance to dry before it rained there is no need to reapply the product.

Termidor Sc is labeled for black widow and brown recluse spiders but it is not labeled for scorpions or for tarantulas. Termidor SC does not have an immediate knockdown but instead uses a delayed reaction kill which makes it especially effective for social insects like ants, termites and certain species of wasps. You should note that we are not aware of any product that is labeled for tarantulas.

Termidor SC must be diluted according to the product instructions. The smallest container it comes in is the 20 oz bottle. In order to inject the liquid into the beams you will need to drill holes every couple of inches and use a sprayer with a pinpoint stream or a straw attachment to get the application into the holes. Another option would be to use Termidor Foam which comes in a ready to use can with the small attachments to get the foam into the drilled holes.

To apply Termidor in the slabs you want to drill holes 18in deep and 12 in. apart and disperse the 4 gallons mixed solution per 10 feet into those holes. You can use any type of sprayer to inject the solution into the slab. The B&G Accuspary with termite injection tip would be very helpful when injecting the solution into the slabs.

If kept out of heat and sunlight the shelf life of Termidor is 3-5 years.

Spraying Termidor SC topically around your home is an ineffective way to control termites. Termidor SC needs to be applied in a trenching treatment for it to be effective. You have also been applying the product too strongly. You should use .8 fl oz per gallon of water and then use 6 gallons of finished solution per 10 linear feet. Please read the termite treatment guide at the following link: http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/how-to-perform-termite-treatment-a-87.html

Termidor SC does have a slight odor though we have never had a complaint that the smell was overwhelming.

The best time  to treat for termties is after the winter in the spring. That is because it is easiest to apply a termiticide like Termidor SC when the ground is softer than when the groudn is frozen. Also, peak activity usually starts right as the winter is ending and into the spring. It really depends on your location.

The answer to this question is also in our How To Do A Termite Treatment Article. You will want to use the Termidor product. For your concrete areas against the home, you will need to get the termiticide underneath the concrete against the foundation. To do this you will need a hammer drill with a 1/2" x 18" drill bit. You drill holes throughout the concrete about 3-4 inches away from the wall or foundation, and about every 10"-12" apart. Once the holes are drilled, you fill at the same rate you did the trench, 4 gallons per 10 feet. To fill these I would recommend using the one gallon sprayer on a "pin stream" setting so you can force the liquid down the hole and not splash it everywhere. You can also use a funnel and pour the termiticide down the holes. It is difficult to get 4 gallons per 10 feet in the holes, so it is important that you use a long drill bit, at least 18" long so you can bore out enough dirt to hold the termiticide. Once the holes are filled all you need to do is patch them with a concrete patch filler you can buy at Home Depot or you can use our Trebor plugs that will close the hole with no concrete mess.

As for your areas with rock over dirt, again - you need to get the termiticide product down into the soil to be most effective. We recommend digging a 6in x 6in trench to pour the solution into the ground.