Bands of Weeping Bark on Apple Tree

Hoping someone may help give an idea of what is going on with this Apple Tree. The darkened bands on the tree branches in the photo(s) are sticky. Ants have been seen crawling about. I detect bore holes..
Words from the owner of the tree are:
"Was situated near an ant hill. Ants streamed up and down leaving trails in the grass. Then a woodpecker injured the tree further. It still bore fruit."

 

It looks like someone spread glue on the trunk and branches to catch the ants.

 

Hi Sundrop;
No glue was spread.
Someone mentioned damage from sap sucker.. ? Have never seen anything like this. Any help to identify the problem would be much appreciated. Thank you for your response.

 

Try to compare with fire blight canker on apple - Google Search

 

Some similarities indeed. Thank you. Looking into this further now.