Aim  In this paper we aim to show that proportional sampling can detect species–area relationships (SARs) more effectively than uniform sampling. We tested the contribution of alpha and beta diversity in ant communities as explanations for the SAR. Location  Tropical forest remnants in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil (20 °45′ S, 42 °50′ W). Methods  We sampled 17 forest remnants with proportional sampling. To disentangle sampling effects from other mechanisms, species richness was fitted in a model with remnant size, number of samples (sampling effects) and an interaction term. Results  A SAR was observed independent of the number of samples, discarding sampling effects. Alpha diversity was not influenced by remnant size, and beta diversity increased with remnant size; evidence to the fact that habitat diversity within remnants could be the dominant cause of the SAR. Such a relationship between beta diversity and remnant area may have also arisen due to the combined effects of territoriality and aggregation of ant species. Main conclusions  The proposed model, together with proportional sampling, allowed the distinction between sampling effects and other mechanisms.

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We provide the first report of larvae of Hoplopyga brasiliensis (Gory and Percheron) and H. singuhris (Gory and Percheron) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) in nests of Cornitermes cumulans (Kollar) (Isoptera: Termitidae: Syntermitinae) and Dwersitermes diversimiles (Silvestri) (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), respectively. We also provide new information on the life cycle of H. brasiliensis and the feeding behavior of adults of H. singularis. In total, 44 larvae of H. brasiliensis were found in a single nest of C. cumulans in apastureland in Coimbra, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Larvae of H. singularis were found under nests of D. diversimites at two urban parks in the state of Parana, Brazil. ≈15 larvae of H. singulis in different stages of development and some opened pupal cells were found in some nests of D. diversimiles. We increase the number of known termitophilous Hoplopyga species to three and discuss such relationships in light of published data and new information provided here.