Duplicate field trials were carried out on bulk wheat in commercial silos in Queensland and New South Wales. Laboratory bioassays on samples of treated grain at intervals over 9 months, using malathion‐resistant strains of insects, established that treatments were generally effective. Fenitrothion (12 mg kg−1)+ (1R)‐phenothrin (2 mg kg−1) was more effective than pirimiphos‐methyl (6 mg kg−1) + carbaryl (10 mg kg−1) against Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Ephestia cautella (Walker); the order of effectiveness was reversed for S. granarius (L.). Against Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), T. confusum Jackquelin du Val and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), both treatments effectively prevented the production of progeny. The order of persistence was pirimiphos‐methyl> (1R)‐phenothrin>carbaryl or fenitrothion. During processing from wheat to white bread, residues were reduced by 98% for carbaryl, >44% for (1R)‐phenothrin, 98% for fenitrothion and 85% for pirimiphosmethyl.