the Tussock moth caterpillar is "abundant" in North Central Florida and hatches in late February or early March, before maturing and having to "disperse cocoons" in April. Per the museum ...

Tussock moth caterpillars have returned to Florida. The fuzzy little critters ... in late February to early March and start spinning cocoons by early April, they rain down out of the trees ...

The caterpillar, along with most others in the Saturniidae family, spins a silk cocoon. This is where it then spends its time as a pupa, the stage of development before the moth becomes an adult.

Adult atlas moths may be massive, but they do not feed at all after they have emerged from the cocoon. The proboscis, which other butterflies and moths use to drink nectar, is tiny and does not work.