Taurus SC Termiticide is not labeled for this type of application nor would it be recommended for termite barrier treatments in place the trench method.
Please review our How to Treat for Subterranean Termite Guide for step by step instructions on the trench method which will last for 10 years in the soil when applied per the product label.
Taurus SC Termiticide cannot be applied directly to firewood. Burning the wood will kill any possible insects in the wood. If the wood will be burned outdoors only (not indoors), then you could apply Talstar P on the firewood as long as it is not burned for at least 30 days after the application.
For treating the soil/ground area, Talstar P or Dominion 2L could be applied to the ground/soil where the firewod pile is located, once that application has completely dried you can then stack the firewood on a rack or other structure up off the ground or on top of a barrier to prevent similar issues in the future.
Taurus SC is a water based product that dries clear when applied per the product label. For exterior perimeter foundation treatments, mix 0.8 fl oz per gallon of water. This is not a knockdown insecticide but will last for 6 month residual control agains wasps, yellow jackets, cluster flies, house crickets, silverfish, earwigs, boxelder bugs, roaches, asian lady bugs, black widows, brown recluses and millipedes. Please view more information begining on page 10 of the product label
Taurus SC Termiticide can be applied once per 10 years if applying in a soil trench and drilled holes against the foundation for a subterranean termite application. It can also be applied topically to the foundation in a 1 ft by 1 ft band for insects that crawl such as ants 2-4 times per year depending on concentration. The equipment used by professionals requires a rig which most homeowners do not have access to. Please take a few moments to review our treatment article/videos for more details and pro tips here.
No, Taurus SC Termiticide is not labeled for the control of mice.
Please view our Mice Treatment Guide and Rodent Kits for options to eliminate rodents on your property.
Taurus SC Termiticide cannot be used indoors for roach control. The best way to eradicate roaches in the home is to use a combination of a residual spray, roach bait and insect growth regulator. Sanitation is key to a successful roach treatment, the chemicals can only do so much so you need to be aggressive and consistent with treating.
We have put all the necessary products in Roach Control Kits that provide enough product for the initial treatment and follow up treatments that are required every 10-14 days. The kits are set up on a rotation program to prevent roaches from developing any bait resistance. Rotation Kit A is a good clean out treatment to start with for an aggressive approach to treatment. After 90 days, you can rotate to Kit B or Kit C if continued treatments are necessary.
Please view our Roach Treatment Guide for more information or tips for effective roach control.
Taurus SC Termiticide is not for use outside as a broadcast nor safe to use on pastures.
Taurus SC Termiticide when used as a general surface spray around the foundation of the structure, rather than as a termite treatment, will only hold up to the outdoor elements about 30-90 days much like most insecticides on the market. UV rays, rain, and other environmental factors will break the product down on the surface over time. You could potentially get a 2 month residual out of each application, but it all depends on the outdoor elements in that time frame. Often, customers see the effects of a transfer insecticide like Taurus for longer than its actually still present on the surface, as it can eliminate large insect colonies that will take longer to build back up to a level you need to spray for again. You can also do a combo of two applications at 0.4 oz per gallon each time, and a single application at 0.8 oz per gallon if you wanted, as well as the options you mentioned. Ideally you would want to use Taurus for an active pest problem since it has the delayed kill and transfer effect most beneficial in those scenarios. If you are doing general insect prevention, an insecticide that kills faster and allows for more uses per year and more usage areas in and around the home would be a better choice. There are many options for this, such as Temprid FX, which will still provide some transfer effect for colony pests like ants and roaches, but will provide a faster kill on other insects in the area and create more of a preventative barrier.
In order to apply Taurus SC correctly for a termite treatment, you will need to trench 6 inches wide and 6 inches deep along the foundation to apply the product. This insures that you have a continuous barrier without gaps and that the product is deep enough in the soil to effective. Attempting to drill holes in the soil is not a sufficient application. We have more details in our online Subterranean Termite Prevention Guide here.
For pre slab construction treatment using Taurus SC Termiticide, it is recommended to pre treat the soil prior to pouring concrete or footings in additon to doing a trench method treatment for termites. This is because you will never have the opportunity again to treat underneath slabs. For pre slab construction treatments including basements, patios, garages, porches and garage slabs, mix 0.8 fl oz of Taurus SC per gallon of water and for every 10 sq ft, pour 1 gallon of mixed solution.
After the footings have been poured and all grade levels have been placed next to the block wall foundation, you will still need to dig the standard 6 inch x 6 inch trench directly against the foundation and pour 4 gallons of mixed solution every 10 linear feet. For homes where the foundation is at a depth greater than 4 ft, you would need do what’s called rodding to get the 4 gallons of solution down to the footing. Rodding is where you will use piece of rebar long enough that when driven down into the soil will reach just above the footing and for every 10-12 inches in the 6 in x 6 in trench, drive the rebar down into the soil just deep enough to reach the top of the footing. Pour the 4 galllons of mixed solution every 10 linear feet along the trench and allow the mixed solution to effectively reach down into the soil and provide the barrier protection.
Please view the product label for more information.
Taurus SC Termiticide is a slow acting product that allows termites to come into contact with it and get it back to the colony to kill the queen. This is usually the best method to control termites, the slower kill method because it can kill the entire colony. If you need to quickly kill the portion of termites you find in the area, you do risk only killing the foraging termites and not killing the nest. For more information on treating termites, please check out our articles on subterranean and drywood termites.
Taurus SC Termiticide would be the best choice for a termite pre slab treatment. For pre slab treatments, apply at 0.8 fl oz per gallon of water per 10 sq ft of the slab footprint. Allow the application to dry for 48 hrs before pouring the concrete slab.
It is recommended that once the slab is poured, to apply Taurus SC Termiticide as a trench treatment directly against the foundation. Please view the product label and our Trench Treatment Guide for more information.