Mushi-Bana (虫花 - むしばな, lit. “insect flowers”) refers to a particular style of hanafuda deck that lacks the
Peony and
Bush Clover suits, thus containing only 40 rather than the usual 48 cards. In most other respects, this pattern tends to be very similar to the standard Hachi-Hachi-Bana design.
It is said to have originated in the Kansai region of Japan, near Osaka, and is used almost exclusively to play the fishing-type game Mushi, which is popular in that area. Mushi-Bana was also sometimes used as a substitute for kabufuda in the banking game Kyo-Kabu, in which case the game is also called Mushi-Kabu.
Duarcain. “Mushi 虫." Hanafuda Hub!, 23 June 2013, https://duarcain.blogspot.com/2013/06/mushi.html