A solitary, nocturnal species found in Himalayan moist temperate forest and dry coniferous forest areas in Asia. It roosts in caves, tunnels, crevices, old buildings, mines, tree hollows, and can be found beneath bark. It is a sedentary insectivore, with 3-8 females in nursery colonies, with females normally living separately to males.

This is a very widespread species. The main distribution occurs from the Caucasus eastwards including Iran, Afghanistan and India, and onwards to China where it is known from the provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu, Shanxi, Qinghai, Nei Mongol, Xinjiang and Taiwan (Smith and Xie, in press). It is also widespread in Japan. There are isolated populations also known from Sinai (Egypt) and the southern tip of Israel, as well as Eritrea in North Africa. It occurs up to 2,500 m Asl.

Further surveys and monitoring are needed for this species to determine the current population status, range and major threats. It is included in Eurobats (Bonn Convention) and so should be protected in party range states (e.g. Georgia). It probably occurs in several protected areas throughout its range.