Small black ants on red oaks

[WhitePineJunky]

Can anyone tell me why small black ants are obsessed or extremely attracted to oaks? I've noticed it for a long time but it really became apparent to me when I went to my scorched woodlot and planted a couple red oaks and within hours it had the ants on them, sugar maples I planted, none. What gives? Can never find any info on them whenever I search it comes to carpenter ants, these are not carpenter ants. Do they harm the trees?

[SwampDonkey]

Do you notice any aphids as well? I doubt ants will harm them if they are new seedlings. Ants will also be all over pine, usually aphids on them to, they take the honeydew from the aphids. Aphids are sucking insects, they can do harm. Usually predatory insects keep them in check.