I remember when I was in 3rd grade I ordered an ant farm with ants.
When the package came, I opened it and saw the ants were in a tube-like container. I opened it and saw that the ants were motionless and non-reactive. I assumed they had died in shipment, so I dumped them out on the sidewalk and stomped on them in anger.
I probably should have read the instructions first.
No, that's the proper way to kill ants.....It beats a magnifying glass and frying them one at a time.