  We have computed new estimates of the local rates of supernovae (SNe) adding
the updated log of Evans' visual search to our SN search database. In this way,
we have accumulated the largest SN statistics ever assembled for this purpose.
The new SN rates are corrected on an empirical basis for the bias in the inner
regions of galaxies and that in inclined spirals. We also tested an alternative
approach based on the simple model proposed by Hatano et al. (1998) for the SN
and dust distribution in spirals. It turns out that, although the two
approaches give similar average rates, the Hatano et al. model appears to
overcorrect the SN rate of distant galaxies. We used these updated statistics
to probe the SN rates with different tracers of the star formation activity in
galaxies, namely integrated colors, infrared luminosities and nuclear
activities. We found a clear relation between the core-collapse SN rate and the
integrated galaxy color, which appears consistent with the prediction of galaxy
evolutionary models. We also compared SN rates in galaxies with different L_FIR
with unfavorable outcome, and we argue that L_FIR is not a universal
measurement of SFR. Finally, we confirm that the SN rate is not enhanced in AGN
host galaxies which indicates that the nuclear engine does not significantly
stimulate the extranuclear SF.
