The species is associated with primary forest, but also has been collected in cleared areas around dwellings (Handley 1976). Its activity is concentrated near streams or moist areas (Eisenberg 1989). It roosts in hollow trees, buildings, and under bridges (Williams and Genoways, 2008), it feeds on insects, mainly katydids, cockroaches, June beetles, and Lepidoptera larvae, which are gleaned from vegetation. Wilson (1971) found M. hirsuta to be primarily insectivorous, and suggested its diet fluctuated with the seasons and availability of fruit. This bat is attracted to katydid calls and is much more likely to be caught in mist nets baited nets (where it is seldom captured).

This species ranges from eastern Honduras south through Central America to Amazonian Peru and Brazil (Simmons 2005), also along the Atlantic coast to Espirito Santo, Brazil (Peracchi and Albuquerque 1985), also Trinidad. It prefers lower elevations, below 1,500 m (Reid 2009).

The species occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its range. However, it is critical to monitor habitat loss at its geographic range.