I think it's just a habit around here to spray them with wasp Raid or something similar, is there any alternative? I have some in one of my young pear trees. I'm not so keen on spraying a fruit tree with Raid.
I just had a flashback to watching my Dad and His Brothers burn bagworms out of the pecan trees. If you did this today you would possible be arrested as a terrorist. Picture a Lit Kerosene soaked rag stuffed in coke bottle duck taped to the end of a 16 ft bamboo pole. Oh course if I remember this was always a better idea after a few beers.
I did use fire. A jet lighter since it was windy, cooked the little SOBs on contact...it turned out I was mistaken and it was in an ornamental cherry tree...would not have been a big deal BUT it was only 10 yards away from the nearest pear tree. Those things would have stripped the leaves from that too given the chance and the proximity. The youngest pear tree itself is only in its 3rd year, I don't know if it can handle that kind of stress.