Powdered sugar is not that same as granular sugar and it has cornstarch mixed in with it to keep it a free flowing fine powder.  To process amylose (corn starch) into the sugar units that make up the starch the bees do indeed have an enzyme to do this - it is known as diastase or amylase.  The powder version of granulated sugar is more of a product attribute due to how the sugar was handled and transported (texture) resulting in the sugar being of a much finer consistency.  If you're talking about the sugar having corn starch in it, confectioner's sugar, I would not feed that alone but in a mixed supply with granulated sugar it could be OK.  

Erik

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at:
http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm