Experts believe the recent warm weather has been the cause.
One web of the bird cherry ermine moth can sometimes cover hundreds of caterpillars and the damage to plants and trees can be severe.
Parts of Essex were also hit by an invasion of the toxic brown-tail moth caterpillars, which can cause breathing problems, skin irritation and allergic outbreaks to people who come into contact with them.
It is understood it was the more common clothes moth ? or Tineola bisselliella ? that targeted Defra?s Nobel House headquarters in Westminster.
The building was briefly closed last weekend to allow pest controllers to treat the problem.
The larvae of moths are often found in the dark corners of wardrobes and drawers and tend to feed off woollen clothes.
Martin Nesbit, a senior Defra official, revealed on Twitter: ?Great all-staff message. Nobel House will be closed to staff on Saturday, May 21 to enable pest controllers to treat ongoing moth problem.?
Mr Nesbit, director of EU and international agriculture, joked: ?I assume this has the all-clear from Natural England [the Government?s wildlife experts] and biodiversity policy colleagues.?
The problem was first picked up last autumn when staff complained about insects flying out of air vents and swooping around desks, meeting rooms and corridors. Officials had the building fumigated in November, but the problem returned.
A Defra spokesman said: ?There is no longer a moth problem. The building was closed for follow-up treatment after the problem was discovered last November. How any moths came to be here remains shrouded in mystery.
?I am not going to conduct an audit of woolly jumpers at Defra.?
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