black ants are laying eggs/something on my potted red maple tree,what do I do?

ants are crawling up the tree to the underside of leaf branches and I have scraped some of the bumps off is there anything else. I now have put vasoline at the base of the tree hoping that will work. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Answers:
take crushed red hot pepper and put it around the bottom of the tree this will stop the ants from crossing over and up the tree

Other answers:
CALL THE EXTERMINATOR!! Wait......is that for mice?? Well if it is then don't, but if it isn't then do! :]
CALL THE EXTERMINATOR!! Wait......is that for mice?? Well if it is then don't, but if it isn't then do! :]
Nuke 'Em!!
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