This species can be found in varied habitats from arid regions to humid montane forests. It roosts in human habitations in both rural and urban areas, in old dilapidated buildings, crevices and cracks in walls, tree hollows, holes in trees, caves, wells, old temples, under overhanging ledges. It roosts either singly or in colonies of few hundred individuals. It is an early flyer and its flight includes numerous twists and turns and also goes straight and hunts mainly beetles, moths, flies and other insects. Two young are born after a gestation period of 50-55 days (Bates and Harrison 1997).

This species is largely distributed in South Asia, with additional populations recorded in China and Southeast Asia. In South Asia it is presently known from Bangladesh (no exact location), India (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal), Pakistan (Punjab and Sind) and Sri Lanka (Central, Eastern, Uva and Western provinces) (Khan 2001; Molur et al. 2002; Srinivasulu and Srinivasulu 2005, 2012). In China, it has been recorded from south Guangxi and Hainan Island (Smith and Xie 2008). In Southeast Asia, there are reports of this species from northern Myanmar, northern Viet Nam, and Sabah (Malaysia) on the island of Borneo (at 1,300 m asl).

Although there are no direct conservation measures in place, the species is found in many protected areas in India.