This species is found in tropical moist forest, wet open forest, rural gardens, and fruit and coconut plantations. It is tolerant of mild disturbance and can be found foraging in orchards. It is generally absent from dry woodland and savannah. It roosts in caves, sinkholes, boulder piles, old mines, disused buildings, and dense vegetation. It is a gregarious species. In New Guinea, colonies may contain several thousand animals. In Australia, colonies are generally much smaller. Females annually give birth to a single young (Flannery 1995, Strahan 1995, Bonaccorso 1998, Duncan et al. 1999).

This species ranges from Maluku Islands (including Ambon, Bacan, Buru and Seram islands) and Banda Islands. It has an altitudinal range of sea level up to 2,700 m asl.

It is known from a number of protected areas. There is a need to ensure the protection of important roosting sites. Bonaccorso (1998) mentions a large roosting site of some 10,000 bats at a village near Omeru (Papua New Guinea), where local villagers have provided protection to the bats and offer walking tours to view the roost for a small fee.