Like other Miniopterus, this species roosts in caves and similar structures, sometimes with other species, and can form large colonies. It forages for insects in primary and secondary forest, and apparently around human settlements near lights (Bonaccorso 1998).

Taxonomic investigations underway may provide a more accurate understanding of the distribution limits of this species. Until then, the species is considered to have a wide distribution across mainland South East Asia, through Borneo and parts of Indonesia to the island of New Guinea (type locality in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea). It has been recorded from Myanmar in the west (recorded from Hpo-an and Mawlamyine, Bates et al. 2000), through southern China (including Hainan Island), many island localities including Sumatra (Indonesia), western Java (Indonesia), northern Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia and Kalimantan, Indonesia), Timor (Indonesia and Timor-Leste), and Seram (Indonesia). It occurs over a larger part of Papua New Guinea and part of West Papua (Indonesia), from sea level to over 2,000 m asl (Bonaccorso 1998).

A common assumption for common and widespread species is that they are secure, and that adequate numbers occur in multiple protected areas (e.g., Pu Mat National Park, Cuc Phuong National Park, and Toong Ching, Viet Nam; Hendrichsen et al. 2001). For species of Miniopterus that congregate seasonally to breed, a single catastrophic event can remove a significant fraction of a regional population. In addition, insidious processes and minor disturbances can function to cause declines both at breeding roosts and other areas where bats are present seasonally. Effective protection and strategic management of known roost sites, especially of the largest colonies, should be a priority for government land managers, ideally working with local authorities and communities. Given the potential that it is collected for food in parts of its range, liaison with local communities is required to achieve conservation outcomes. Broader-reaching policies that take steps to protect ever-dwindling natural forests will also help this species persist. In environmental impact assessments, so-called ‘localised effects’ may in fact have regional consequences, given the number and spatial extent of suitable protected caves available for colonies, particularly large seasonal breeding congregations. Assessments of the risk of developments to known large colonies therefore need to be informed by the broader context of habitat available for the species. The conservation status of all small Miniopterus needs to be reassessment in the light of new taxonomic and distributional information.