Termidor SC - Questions & Answers

Both Termidor and Bora-Care are good for treating dry wood termites.  They do it in different ways though.  Termidor is considered to be one of the best treatments around, however it is typically meant for subterranean termites and it is poured into the ground.  When using Termidor to treat dry wood termites, you have to drill holes into the wood and get the Termidor directly into the void where the termites are for it to work. Termidor will not penetrate through the wood, you have to get it in the right place.  Also, Termidor SC does not have any long term protection qualities in the wood.  Bora-Care is a wood treatment product and will penetrate through the wood. When applying Bora-Care you do not have to get it directly where the termites are.  You would typically just spray it on the surface of the wood and the Bora-Care will penetrate through the wood and kill the termites inside.  Also, since Bora-Care is a wood treatment product, it will stay in the wood forever and protect it forever.  The down side is that Bora-Care can only be applied to normal raw wood.  It cannot be applied to wood that has been painted, stained, or sealed.  So, if you are exposing the studs or normal wood anywhere on the house or replacing any wood then usually Bora-Care is what you want to use since it will protect the wood long term.  If you have an infestation in wood that is painted and you will not be replacing it, then typically you would drill holes into the wood and use Termidor SC.

Termidor is not labeled to treat mole crickets and Termidor is not allowed to be used in the yard at all.  For mole crickets we recommend Advion Insect Granules which are specifically labeled for mole crickets.

 Termidor is only labeled for use around residential and commercial structures and should not be used away from a structure.  So we are not able to recommend it as a treatment method.  Most termiticides are only labeled for use around structures.  Termidor does take up to 90 days to kill a termite colony.  It is recommended when having a wood pile to build a structure for it or place it up on blocks or on a metal stand so it does not come into contact with the ground.  That being said, a 6 x 6 inch trench would work, IF it was labeled to be used away from the house.

Termidor is not a wood treatment product and will not penetrate into wood.  It is meant to be applied to soil.  So spraying Termidor on fascia boards or any other surface will not do much.  If you are trying to take care of termites in wood, then you have to drill holes into the wood and inject the Termidor directly.  It has to come into contact with the termites in the wood to be effective.

The usage rate is 4 gallons of solution for every 10 ft of trench. Be sure to read our Liquid Termite Treatment article for full directions.

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.

Termidor Foam is not labeled to treat roaches. We recommend using our Roach control kit to treat roaches. Roach Control Kit #2 includes 1 packet of Demon WP Insecticide (which makes 4 gallons of finished solution) for spraying the outside perimeter of the home and inside underneath appliances, behind cabinets, under toilets and sinks, etc. You'll also get 4 x 30 gram tubes of Advion Roach Bait Gel--one of the best roach baits on the market. Advion can be applied up high in the kitchen in the corner of cabinets and in cracks and crevices in kitchens and bathrooms. The bait contains a slow-acting poison that attracts and kills feeding roaches, who also spread the bait to other roaches by contact or by sharing food. Finally, 20 Gentrol Point Source stations provide an IGR (Insect Growth Regulator) that will stop roaches from laying eggs, helping to halt the infestation. Please find our article on roach treatment tips and prevention.

The shelf life of Termidor Sc is generally 3-5 years. Please make sure to keep the bottle out of extreme heat to ensure the longest shelf life.

If there is a doubt if some Termidor SC got to the soil of the garden area you can remove the soil and replace it with fresh soil to avoid any contamination issues.  Any tomatos that you suspect have been over sprayed would need to be discarded.

Termidor SC cannot be used to treat fire ants or their mounds. We recommend that you treat the individual mounds (as well as a broadcast) with Extinguish Plus Fire Ant Bait. It will take approximately 1.5-2 lbs per acre and 2-5 TBSP per mound. Please see our Fire Ant Pest Guide for more information and tips about treating for this pest.

Termites do not attack live, healthy trees. If the tree has been damaged by termites it would be advisable to remove the tree and perform a liquid termite soil treatment with Termidor SC to ensure subterranean termites to not find a food source inside of your home. Please take a few minutes to read our article How to Perform a Termite Treatment which will explain how to do the treatment in laymens terms and also explain any needed equipment. Most folks find that they only need a 5 gallon bucket and perhaps a drill in some situations. You should follow the Termidor product label and you should mix Termidor with water as specified. No special equipment is needed to diltute Termidor because it is a water based product and readily mixes with water.
 

Spraying Termidor SC on the surface of soil is not going to offer a protective barrier like the trench and will only work for the general pests that contact the soil surface. Termidor binds to the soil that it is applied to and needs to be used in a trench 6 x 6 inches to offer the best protection. It also does not move through the soil after rain. Termites do not actually contact the surface so it would be best to go back and complete the trench in those areas that have not been done.

Termidor SC is applied as a spray once every six weeks topically up against the foundation for insects that crawl on top of the soil, such as ants. If you are trying to treat for subterranean termites, you will want to dig a trench up against the structure, and if there is concrete up against the foundation you will need to drill to apply the product. Please take a few moments to review our article on How to Get Rid of Subterranean Termites for specific application instructions.

Inside the crawl space you would need to trench around any piers that hold up the home but the outside trench would be all that is required for the actual foundation if you are using Termidor. The Termidor will last for 10 years to protect your home. Please take a moment to look thru our pest control guide for termite treatment. 

Termidor SC is not labeled for treating tent caterpillars. Please provide the name of the plants that you will be treating so that I can find an alternative solution for you. Thank you!

Termidor SC is said to last longer simply do to research. Termidor has been on the market longer and has proven to last 10 years. Taurus has not been on the market long enough to prove that. 

Termite bait systems are not required with Termiticide applications. You can use the bait systems as monitor if you wish. If you apply Termidor SC correctly in a trench, it will last and prevent for up to 10 years. 

Termidor SC is not labeled to be used inside except for spot treating active infestations.  If applied as a crack and crevice spray inside cabinets it would be recommended to thoroughly clean the area with warm soap and water or an all-purpose surface cleaner. 

Once Termidor SC is applied in the soil it will last up to 10 years.

Termidor SC is not labeled for use on any bearing fruit trees.  We would not recommend eating any fruit grown on the treated trees for at least 1 year.