This species often roosts in large colonies, but is also commonly seen roosting in small groups of 5-12 individuals underneath caves and limestone overhangs, within the hollows of strangler figs (Ficus spp.) and concealed within the dead overhanging leaves of Pandanus. A group of seven animals disturbed from a cave on Gatokae Island had not returned within seven days and presumably relocated to a large colony or an alternate roosting site (T. Lavery pers. comm). This species has also been observedroosting singly in tall trees in secondary forest. Favoured colony sites are close to the coast and among mangroves or swamp vegetation. However, colonies on Kolombangara and New Georgia occur in relatively cleared locations among the grounds of a secondary school and a teak plantation respectively (T. Lavery pers. comm). It has been recorded from mature and secondary tropical forest, mangroves, and coconut plantations. Animals have been found feeding on Malay Apple flowers and garden fruits, and captured in coconut groves. The species is estimated to have a generation time of five to six years (S. Hamilton and T. Leary pers. comm).

This species occurs on the islands of Bougainville and Buka of Papua New Guinea, and is found on the Solomon Islands of Choiseul and Arnavon (S. Hamilton and T. Leary pers. comm.), Vangunu, Gatokae, Rendova, Kolombangara, Ghizo, Tetepare, New Georgia, Santa Isabel, Guadalcanal (T. Lavery pers. comm.), and Vella Lavella, Shortland, Simbo, Mono, and Malaita (Flannery 1995, Bonaccorso 1998). It has been recorded from sea level to 700 m asl.

This species is listed on Appendix II of CITES. Field studies are needed to determine the current status of populations throughout the species' range. Important sites for roosting and foraging should be identified and possibly protected. It is not known whether it occurs in any protected areas (T. Leary pers. comm.).